A North Carolina man faces three capital murder charges in connection with the murder of local Christmas tree farm owner Ronald Hudler, 73, his son Frederick Hudler, 45, and employee John S. Miller Jr., 25.
According to news reports, Frederick Phillip Hammer, 48, of Crumpler, N.C., was arrested Jan. 26 for the murders at the elder Hudler’s home in Wilson, Va.
The Hudlers, formerly of Clarkston and owners of tree farms in Michigan, Virginia, and North Carolina, and Miller, who worked at Hudler Tree Farms in Virginia, were shot and killed Jan. 24.
Police said robbery was the motive.
‘I’m so saddened ? (Ron) was such a good friend and partner,? said Joan McCrary of Independence Township, who worked with the Hudlers for more than 20 years. ‘This is very, very tragic.?
Hammer, a former employee of the Hudlers, operated a firewood business in Crumpler, N.C. He is in custody in Punta Gorda, Fla., where he was found and arrested by police. They are expected to return him to Grayson County, Va., this week.
Douglas Vaught, Grayson County commonwealth attorney, said the state will probably seek the death penalty against Hammer.
? Phil Custodio