Murder suspect: Suicide note and a history of violence
Authorities say they found a note at the home of the Bolingbrook man accused of the execution-style killing of his ex-wife, Melissa Bridgewater, outlining his plans to kill her and then himself.
Contents of the note were introduced by DuPage County State's Attorney Joseph Birkett during 49-year-old Jerry L. "Shorty" Hudson's bond hearing Wednesday.
"Melissa has taken my manhood, so I'm taking her with me," the Dec. 30 note read, according to Birkett. "I can't leave this earth knowing she used me for 20 years. Please forgive me. I don't need to suffer anymore."
Judge Daniel Guerin ordered Hudson to be held without bond Wednesday morning, saying the crime was committed in a "cold, calculated, premeditated manner."
Court records suggest Hudson had a history of violence toward women. Most recently, Naperville police arrested Hudson for violating an order of protection in October 2004 that was filed by his then-girlfriend. The charges were eventually dropped.
Court records show another arrest on Jan. 2, 1996. That day, Bridgewater received an emergency order of protection against Hudson after Woodridge police arrested him on domestic violence and unlawful firearm possession charges. Those charges also were dropped when Bridgewater failed to testify against him, court records show.
Another court document orders Woodridge police to return the firearm confiscated after Hudson's 1996 arrest if he produced a valid firearm owner's identification card. It is not clear if the weapon was returned.
Hudson turned himself into Oak Brook police Tuesday evening. He had been charged a day earlier with the New Year's Day shooting death of Bridgewater, 45, in the parking lot of an Oak Brook hotel. Police had been searching for him since the shooting.
Birkett said police were able to trace Hudson's cell phone to the murder scene and cameras at tollway I-PASS booths tracked portions of his escape in a rental car.
But Hudson's attorney, John F. Lyke Jr. of Chicago, argued that all the evidence is circumstantial and his client "did not run at all."
He said Hudson did not immediately turn himself into police because he was grieving his ex-wife's death. Once he was charged, Lyke said, Hudson contacted his attorney and then they contacted Oak Brook police.
Lyke said he would not discuss any alibis, but "my client is maintaining his innocence."
Lyke also said Hudson suffers from diabetes and spinal cancer.
Hudson is accused of luring his wife to her death. Birkett said Hudson called Bridgewater's room at the Doubletree Inn on Spring Road in Oak Brook at around 6:30 a.m. and told her he was ransacking her Bolingbrook home.
Bridgewater came downstairs and asked a hotel employee to escort her to her car. He did and when she was safely inside, the employee began walking back to the hotel. That's when Hudson rammed his rental car into her vehicle, Birkett said, and then shot her five times through her driver's-side window.
Hudson fled in the rental car, which was found abandoned Monday night in Chicago, Birkett said.
Hudson is expected back in court Feb. 5 for his arraignment.
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<h2>Stories</h2>
<ul class="links">
<li><a href="/story/?id=348805">Murder suspect turns himself in; victim had high hopes for 2010 <span class="date">[01/06/10]</span></a></li>
<li><a href="/story/?id=348388">Bolingbrook man charged with killing his ex-wife<span class="date">[01/04/10]</span></a></li>
<li><a href="/story/?id=348060">Oak Brook cops: Man we're seeking is armed, dangerous <span class="date">[01/02/10]</span></a></li>
<li><a href="/story/?id=347969">Bolingbrook woman fatally shot at Oak Brook hotel <span class="date">[01/01/10]</span></a></li>
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<h2>Related documents</h2>
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<li><a href="/pdf/hudson0106.pdf">Oak Brook police press release</a></li>
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