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Per local news coverage:

Her water bottle and her dog's leash were found by the searchers on Blood Mountain, where she was hiking.
The man called a "person of interest" was spotted about 8:00 p.m. at a convenience store, after two 911 calls from persons who spotted the white van.
The man had his van at the dumpster area of the convenience/gas store and was cleaning it out -- full of boxes and bags. From the film, it looked as though there was an auto vacuum cleaner (or air machine) where he parked the van.
Her dog walked into a grocery store about 70 miles south of where she was last seen (and only a few miles from where the person of interest was detained). A shopper thought the dog looked like hers from the TV reports and took it to a vet. The dog was microchipped and the vet was able to confirm that it was her dog. The dog was in good shape.
Something -- probably the dog, or perhaps another call -- led police to search a dumpster at another gas station/convenience store close to the grocery store. There, the police found some of her personal belongings.
GBI is going over the van now for evidence.
Police are checking security cameras from all businesses near where the dog, van, and personal items were found.

Doesn't look good. Experienced hiker and dog lover would not have voluntarily left water bottle and leash on trail, left car at trail head. Her personal items would not be found 70 miles south of where she was hiking, thrown away near where her dog was found. And I don't like that the person of interest was in the process of cleaning (and perhaps vacuuming) his van when detained. Prayers for her and her friends and family.

Tonight's Atlanta news led with developments in the hiker's disappearance, an adolescent girl kidnapped by a MARTA bus driver taking the bus for repairs, capture of a serial rapist, and sentencing of a seventeen year old for vehicular manslaughter as a result of his hit-and-run accident involving an eight year old girl crossing the street in his neighborhood.

For those of you remember Simon & Garfunkel's "Silent Night/Six O'Clock News," the audio from this broadcast would have been a fitting counterpoint playing behind that angelic singing of Silent Night.

From the film, it looked as though there was an auto vacuum cleaner (or air machine) where he parked the van.

On the left side of the store there is an air hose AND a water hose. Had to use it once when car overheated. Drawing a blank on the vacuum, but only because I have not used one there.

7 O'Clock News/Silent Night , Simon & Garfunkel Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme

Time flies.....

thanks for posting all of that info. And welcome to what I see every night on the DC metro area news.