Buckner gets life without parole in Hudson murder

MANSFIELD - Linda Buckner will never have another day of freedom.

Richland County Common Pleas Judge James DeWeese sentenced her Wednesday afternoon to life in prison without possibility of parole.

A jury deliberated for nearly three hours Wednesday morning before finding Buckner guilty on all seven charges, including aggravated murder, for the death and dismemberment of Patsy Hudson.

DeWeese called the case an "extremely perverse offense."

The judge said Buckner was part of a scheme to take advantage of Hudson, whom he called a "big-hearted woman." The scheme to cover up the crime included removing the neighborhood cats that Hudson fed.

While an official cause of death was never determined, DeWeese said there was bone evidence suggesting Hudson was stabbed in the neck.

The judge ordered Buckner to make restitution for funeral expenses.

Lonnie Clevenger, Hudson's son, and Richland County Assistant Prosecutor Deb Woodward shared a long embrace outside the courtroom.

"The jury made the right decision. She's guilty," Clevenger said. "Justice was served."

The five-man, seven-woman jury began deliberating at 9:15 a.m. Wednesday, broke for lunch and announced they had a verdict about 1:20 p.m. after returning from lunch.

In addressing the court during her sentencing, Buckner told the judge she hoped to prove her innocence at a later date. Shackled at the hands and feet, she appeared in an orange jail jumpsuit.

Hudson, 62, went missing from her 284 Spring St. home in July 2015. Her dismembered body was found scattered at several locations in the northern portion of Richland County in February. Buckner, 58, was charged with aggravated murder, murder, abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence, receiving stolen property, misuse of credit cards and identity fraud.

Buckner and co-defendant Walter Renz, 53, were Hudson's neighbors for a few months. They were arrested Feb. 4 at a roadside campground southwest of Nashville, Tennessee, after a nationwide manhunt.

"It was a heinous and horrible crime," Woodward said. "The murder of anyone is reprehensible. The way her body was disposed of and dismembered was completely unacceptable."

At sentencing, Woodward called Hudson's murder a "senseless act" and said the dismemberment "indicated a depravity and a lack of humanity."

Clevenger agreed.

"It's insane. It shouldn't happen to anybody," he said.

Before the verdict was read, Woodward announced that she will retire after 32 years of public service. She has been at the prosecutor's office for nearly three years.

"I wanted to try this case," Woodward said of the decision to delay her departure.

In her closing argument Tuesday, Woodward said Buckner and Renz plotted to kill Hudson, assume her identity and get her money. The assistant prosecutor said the defendants went through more than $4,000 of Hudson's money by knowing her PIN number and using her debit card.

Defense attorney Mark Cockley declined comment.

Assistant Prosecutor Brandon Pigg praised the work of the Mansfield Police Department — five detectives were on hand for the verdict — and the forensic students and staff at Mercyhurst University, who helped collect evidence.

Renz's case is on hold indefinitely because he has been found incompetent to stand trial.

"There's no way to tell what's going to happen," Pigg said. "When he is restored to competency, we'll address his case at that time."

Pigg said he hopes Hudson's loved ones will get closure with the conviction of Buckner.

But Clevenger said that will have to wait.

"We've still got one more to go," he said of Renz's case. "That would put the icing on the cake."

mcaudill@gannett.com

419-521-7219

Twitter: @MNJCaudill