NEWS

Missing Mansfield woman search: Remains found

Lou Whitmire
Reporter

MANSFIELD -- Human remains believed to be those of missing Mansfield woman Patsy Hudson were recovered at multiple sites in northern Richland County.

With the assistance of the Richland County Sheriff’s Office and other local and state agencies, human remains believed to be Hudson's were found, according to a Mansfield Police Department press release Sunday night.

A positive identification of the remains is still pending by the Richland County Coroner’s Office, according to police.

Hudson, 62, of 284 Spring St., has not been seen since July 4, the same day that two neighbors were allegedly seen moving out of the house next door, according to search warrants filed in Mansfield Municipal Court in late January.

Those two neighbors — Walter Renz, 53, and Linda Buckner/Blehar, 57 — were arrested Thursday in Lewis County, Tennessee, by a U.S. Marshals Task Force at a roadside campground southwest of Nashville. Renz is being held on a warrant for receiving stolen property, tied to the use of Hudson's credit card, while Buckner/Behar is being held on a bail-jumping warrant from Kentucky.

During the course of the investigation over the last few days, several leads led investigators to multiple crime scenes.

Law enforcement personnel searched at least three northern Richland County locations Saturday night and Sunday looking for her body.

The beautiful countryside bordered by fields and wooded areas was mostly desolate except for a few horses and buggies and neighbors who were curious or concerned about the police presence.

A woman out for a Sunday afternoon walk with a friend said she lives in the area where authorities were set up and wondered if any criminal activity had occurred on her 40-plus acres.

About 3 p.m., authorities from several agencies were searching a field off Ransom Road, in a rural area between Ohio 603 and Ganges Five Points Road, south of Shiloh, after searching at least two other locations earlier.

Local and out-of state-officials examine a possible crime scene  Sunday morning on Snake Road, searching for the body of missing Mansfield woman Patsy Hudson.

.Prior to the the Ransom Road search, law enforcement agencies searched an area on nearby Snake Road near the Richland County Coon Hunters Club, where a small crowd of members watched from the club's property. It appeared authorities had gathered evidence, which was carried in brown paper bags.

At about 10:30 a.m., the search teams had moved from the first site in an area off Ohio 545 and Franklin Church Road, north of Eby Road, to the Snake Road location.

Ed Ramsey, who lives on Franklin Church Road, asked reporters if they knew what was going on since the curvy road is usually quiet.

In addition to vehicles from Mansfield Police Department, Richland County Sheriff's Office and the Richland County Coroner's Office, vehicles with Pennsylvania license plates were seen with the search party.

Detectives also were seen outside Hudson's Spring Street home Sunday around 1 p.m., having removed a van from the property as evidence on Saturday night.

Neighbors near the initial search site on Franklin Church Road near Ohio 545 said law enforcement, including members of the Mansfield Police Department and the Richland County Sheriff's Office, showed up about dusk Saturday evening.

Lonnie Clevenger of Galion, Hudson's son, said wondering where his mother is has been a nightmare.

"I think they (the suspects) need to be brought to justice and if any lethal injection exists, they deserve it," Clevenger said.

He said his mother was generous to people if she knew them.

Clevenger said his mom worked hard to support him and was known around Mansfield as a waitress at restaurants including M & R Restaurant, Athens Greek Restaurant in downtown Mansfield, Fork & Fingers and Mama's Touch of Italy. She also worked at Therm-O-Disc for a while, he said.

"I learned a lot from her," Clevenger said.

A relative of Walter Renz' speaking to the News Journal by telephone Sunday said tearfully she wanted to apologize to Patsy Hudson's family if Walter has done anything.

Renz grew up in northern Richland County, living on small dairy farm on Free Road as a youngster. He lived on London East Road with his parents before they moved to a mobile home on Hazelbrush Road this July, his mother Virginia Renz said Sunday.

His mother said Walter Renz worked on the farm and knew the area well in northern Richland County.

"I feel so sorry for her family. I am so angry I never want to see him again and definitely not her (Linda Buckner/Blehar)," his mother said Sunday.

"Our thoughts are with Ms. Hudson’s family during this difficult time and as we await the coroner’s report," Mansfield police Chief Ken Coontz said in a news release.

Anyone with additional information is asked to call Lt. Rob Skropits at 419-755-9724.

 lwhitmir@nncogannett.com

419-521-7223

Twitter: @Lwhitmir