Amir S. Hudson, a 36-year-old man, was killed in his Warren, Michigan, home on October 28, 2014. Originally from Coatesville, Pennsylvania, Hudson was a former college football player who had relocated to Michigan. Those who knew him described him as a kindhearted 'Gentle Giant' with an infectious smile who could lighten the mood in any room. He had earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice and was working as a security guard at the time of his death.
The investigation into his death led to the arrest of 25-year-old Andrew Watts. The circumstances surrounding the killing were complex, stemming from a tumultuous relationship between Watts and Hudson. According to prosecutors, Watts was driven by shame and internal conflict over his sexual relationship with Hudson, for which Hudson had reportedly compensated him with marijuana. This internal struggle is believed to have motivated the violent act. On the night of the incident, Watts fatally shot Hudson in his residence.
Following his arrest, Andrew Watts was charged with first-degree premeditated murder. The case proceeded to a trial in Macomb County Circuit Court, where the prosecution argued that the murder was a result of Watts' deep-seated shame. In his defense, Watts' attorney claimed that his client suffered from a mental illness and that the killing was not premeditated but rather an act of emotional distress following a particular sexual encounter.
