MERIWETHER COUNTY JURY CONVICTS KEVIN HUDSON OF MURDER AND OTHER CHARGES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 20, 2024

On March 19, 2024, a Meriwether County jury found Kevin Hudson, 64, of New York, guilty of Malice Murder, Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony. Coweta Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge Emory Palmer presided over the trial and sentenced Hudson to serve life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus five years.

Sr. Assistant District Attorney Tim Marlow prosecuted the case. Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) Agent Devin Evans led the investigation with substantial assistance from Manchester Police Department and the Meriwether County Sheriff’s Office. The evidence revealed the following:

In July of 2022, the victim, Stephanie Johnson, ended her relationship with Hudson. On September 8, 2022, Hudson entered Stephanie’s home without permission, took her guns, threatened her, and warned her not to call the police. Stephanie was able, however, to get two messages to her closest friend, who contacted the police, resulting in the arrival of the Manchester Police Department. When Hudson saw an officer outside, he became irate, and shot the victim multiple times. As the officer attempted to enter the front door of the residence, Hudson fled from the rear of the residence and into nearby woods. As he fled, he hid the firearm he used to murder Stephanie Johnson under a shed.

Meriwether County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Janovsky arrived on scene with his K-9, Rico, to track the murderer, as did Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Cpl. Ison and his K-9, Bo. Sgt. Janovsky and Rico located Hudson 30 minutes after the murder and Cpl. Ison and Bo located Hudson’s phones and the latex gloves he wore during the murder. In March of 2023, a neighbor located the murder weapon under a shed, and the GBI matched the bullets taken from the victim’s body to the gun.

Bringing Kevin Hudson to justice was truly a team effort involving Manchester PD, the Meriwether County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia DNR, the GBI, and the District Attorney’s Office. This was a heinous case of domestic violence that tragically cost Stephanie Johnson her life. Because she was brave enough to ask her friend to contact the police, her murderer was apprehended quickly and will now spend the rest of his life in the Georgia Department of Corrections.

JOHN HERBERT CRANFORD, JR.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
COWETA JUDICIAL CIRCUIT