The Murder of William Hudnall
For this case I watched an episode of Evil Lives Here. It’s season 5 episode 2, titled ‘Let Her Rot.’ It’s going to be a shorter recap, but it was a brutal and horrible crime.
A father of three is killed by someone he trusted.
Background
William Hudnall
William Hudnall was born on August 24, 1959, and was 51 years old at the time of his death. He worked on naval ships, and wasn’t around his family much due to being the breadwinner, and trying to provide for his family. He was married to a woman named Stephanie, and they had three kids: Joshua, Guenevere and Ruby Grace.
His son, Josh, was the person who was interviewed in this episode and he said his dad was the reason the family stayed together. He described his dad as his friend and the only person who really cared about him.
Josh Hudnall in the Evil Lives Here episode
A Troubled Household
Josh referred to his mom as Stephanie, and said at the time the episode aired he hadn’t spoken to her in years.
He said Stephanie only cared about herself and was a master manipulator. She would act as a loving mother in public, but as soon as they were back at home she would turn it off.
Josh said they moved a lot when they were younger, and he didn’t know why. He didn’t learn until he was older that Stephanie was the reason for it. She had a habit of spending money, and they would move after they didn’t pay the bills. Josh said they moved from New Orleans to Pennsylvania to Virginia Beach, and they would only stay in their homes for 4-6 months, then move again.
After each move, William would catch on and it would lead to more fights. After William stopped giving Stephanie money, she retaliated.
Stephanie’s Revenge
Josh said the first time Stephanie took revenge on William was when he was picked up from school one day. He said they hopped in the car and drove an hour and a half to a women’s shelter. He said he didn’t know what a women’s shelter was until he was asked by an employee if his dad was abusive. Josh said no, but the employees didn’t believe him. They were at the shelter for several weeks, and Josh didn’t have contact with his dad. They finally went home after those weeks, and William gave into Stephanie’s requests for money.
Soon, Stephanie was spending money again. William took over the finances, and again, Stephanie attempted to hurt William.
Josh described an incident that happened after they had a family dinner. Josh said he was older at the time, and was in his room when he heard a noise. He said he heard someone throwing up, and he went out to see what was happening. He said he saw his dad leaning over the toilet, and Stephanie appeared as said something like your dad is sick. William ended up being sick for several days, and missed work. Josh said he believed Stephanie poisoned William, but he had no proof.
In another attempt to do it herself, Stephanie even tried to burn down their house, while everyone slept. It failed when she dropped a candle on their carpet in the master bedroom. Soon, Stephanie tried to recruit her kids to help her.
Josh Has Had Enough
Josh said one day Stephanie tried to get him to file a restraining order against his dad. Josh said no, and Stephanie didn’t like this.
A few weeks before he turned 18, Josh said Stephanie came at him with a knife after he didn’t help her. Josh left, and told his dad what happened. His dad asked him if he wanted to file a report with the police. Josh said no, because he believed it would be his word against hers. Soon after, Josh had enough and joined the Army to get away from everything.
Josh said he loved the Army. He said he was in Iraq, and that even the war was better than his home life. He said he wouldn’t hear from Stephanie for weeks, until he received his paychecks. She would call and say things like we can barely pay the bills, that she loved him, etc. Josh cut off all contact with her and told her she wasn’t going to send her any money.
A Phone Call
Josh said while he was in Iraq, he received a message from his cousin to call home and that there had been a death in the family. Josh said his uncles and grandpa were sick, so he thought one of them had passed away. When he called another relative, they told him his dad was dead and that the police think it was a homicide.
Josh said he broke down, and another sergeant found him. He was told he would be put on the next plane home.
Josh said he was in Kuwait when he found out what really happened.
On June 9, 2011, Stephanie and Guenevere had found William dead in their home in Hawthorne, Florida. Stephanie had called 911. He had been stabbed five times with a pick axe. The police originally thought it was a robbery gone wrong, but then they discovered that there was no forced entry.
Stephanie and Guenevere were brought in for questioning, and they confessed.
Killed Over Money
Stephanie had wanted William dead for several years, and when Josh said no to helping her, she groomed Guenevere. Guenevere was the one that actually stabbed her dad, but Josh believes that Stephanie was in the room with her, but that was never proven.
Josh said Guenevere and Stephanie had a strange relationship, and he believes his sister was 100% brainwashed by his evil mom.
Guenevere admitted that she stabbed her dad in the head and chest because they were about to lose everything. Stephanie and Guenevere believed that William had a hefty life insurance policy, but it turned out he didn’t.
The police believed that William was killed the previous night, and then was discovered the next day. They staged the crime scene, and thought they would never get caught. The deadly duo was arrested on June 12, 2011.
Trial and Convictions
At trial, the mother and daughter pointed their fingers at each other. Guenevere said that her mom was in the room with her while she stabbed her dad. She also said her mom told her to kill her dad. Stephanie said she wasn’t in the room.
They were both found guilty of second degree murder and conspiracy to commit second degree murder. They were both sentenced to 40 years in prison.
Josh believes his sister was given too much jail time, and that Stephanie wasn’t given enough. He tried to get answers from both of them, by visiting them in prison. Stephanie didn’t tell him anything, and Guenevere wouldn’t stop crying. This was before he watched the interrogation video of Guenevere.
Guenevere Hudnall
Stephanie Hudnall
Other
Josh Hudnall died on August 14, 2018, due to liver failure. He was found in his truck, at 27 years old. He died shortly before his episode of Evil Lives Here aired.
FINAL THOUGHTS
What a horrible case. William Hudnall was 100% innocent, and didn’t believe that Stephanie would want to hurt him. Josh said that his dad didn’t believe it even when he was poisoned and when she tried to set their home on fire. I believe William probably saw the best in all of them, and was betrayed.
I believe Guenevere was manipulated, but if she’s willing to kill then she should be in jail for a long time. Stephanie should have gotten more time, but I believe it was never proven that she was in the room with her daughter, which is maybe why she wasn’t given more time.
It’s so sad that Josh passed away, he said the reason he did the episode was to give him closure.
Sources
https://www.gainesville.com/article/LK/20120925/news/604155358/GS
https://www.gainesville.com/article/LK/20110617/News/604141620/GS
https://deaddeath.com/joshua-hundall-cause-of-death-army-veteran-joshua-hudnall-death/
