Cass County woman charged in son's death

Friday, December 12, 2008

A Cass County mother has been charged with murder in the death of her 13-year-old adopted son, and the child's adopted father has been accused of tampering with evidence in the case, officials said.

Cynthia Hudson , 45, of Queen City remained in the Cass County Jail on Thursday afternoon on a $1 million bond.

District Attorney Clint Allen said she was arrested Dec. 5. Allen said he plans to upgrade the charge to capital murder and request bond be withheld. He said he would pursue the death penalty if Hudson is indicted on a capital murder charge.

Allen said the child appeared to have been beaten to death.

Allen said William Hudson , 48 , was arrested Thursday morning on a charge of tampering with evidence connected to the death. He remained jailed Thursday afternoon on a $250,000 bond.

Allen declined to provide any additional information about the death or the tampering with evidence charge.

The Hudsons have four other adopted children, and they exhibited signs of abuse, Allen said. The children, the oldest of which is 14, have been removed and placed in child protective custody. Allen said the children had been with the Hudsons for a few years.