In the small town of Mounds, Oklahoma, the life of 28-year-old Britney Michelle Smith was tragically cut short in a shocking act of violence. On December 18, 2021, the Creek County Sheriff's Office received a call for a well-being check at Britney's residence. What they discovered upon arrival was a grim scene that would forever alter the community.
Deputies found blood on the exterior of the home, and inside, Britney was found deceased.
The investigation into her death quickly uncovered a story of domestic violence. Britney, a devoted mother and a beloved dental assistant, had been in a relationship with 35-year-old Chad Alan Hudgins of Bristow, Oklahoma. According to witness statements, Hudgins had confessed to shooting Britney during an argument. The ensuing investigation involved the Creek County Sheriff's Office, the Muscogee Creek Nation Lighthorse Police, and the FBI.
Following the incident, Hudgins fled the state in an attempt to evade capture. His time as a fugitive was short-lived, however. On December 22, 2021, just four days after Britney's death, he was apprehended in Kansas. At the time of his arrest, he was found with a loaded 9mm pistol. Hudgins was subsequently charged with second-degree murder for his role in Britney's death. The legal proceedings that followed ultimately saw him sentenced to 30 years in federal prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, bringing a measure of justice to a case that highlighted the devastating consequences of domestic violence.
