In September of 2022, the life of 50-year-old Stephanie Johnson was tragically cut short in her Manchester, Georgia home. The harrowing ordeal began after Johnson ended her relationship with her boyfriend, Kevin Hudson, in July of that same year. On September 8, 2022, Hudson unlawfully entered Johnson's residence, where he proceeded to take her firearms and issue threats against her.
In a moment of terror, Johnson managed to send two text messages to her closest friend, who immediately alerted the Manchester Police Department.
The arrival of law enforcement at the scene escalated the already volatile situation. Upon spotting an officer outside, Hudson became enraged and shot Johnson multiple times. As the officer attempted to force entry through the front door, Hudson fled out the back and into a nearby wooded area. He concealed the murder weapon before hiding under a shed, where a K-9 unit eventually discovered him.
The investigation that followed led to the recovery of the murder weapon in March 2023, when a neighbor found it under a shed and turned it over to the police. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation was able to match the bullets from Johnson's body to the recovered firearm, solidifying the case against Hudson. On March 19, 2024, a Meriwether County jury found Kevin Hudson, 64, guilty of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, with an additional five years.
