A Texas woman told police she hid as a man who earlier had drinks with her family at a campsite shot four of her relatives in the woods then killed her husband and daughter in a camper.
According to an arrest affidavit filed by the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department and obtained by the Tyler Morning Telegraph, Cynthia Johnson told investigators she and six family members were camping Saturday when a man on a tractor came by and helped them get a stuck vehicle out of the mud.
Later, the man, who police say is 33-year-old William Hudson, shared alcoholic beverages with them at their campsite.
Some of the family members went into the woods with Hudson, the document said, and there were “multiple gunshots.”
Only Hudson returned and chased Carl Johnson and Hannah Johnson into the camper trailer, Cynthia Johnson told police. There were more gunshots and Johnson said she saw Hudson shoot her husband on the steps of the trailer.
She stayed hidden until she felt safe to come out. Authorities didn’t say how long that was, but Johnson called police Sunday morning.
Investigators searched the area and found blood Sunday morning on a tractor at Hudson’s home. When they approached his door they could see him inside. The affidavit says they saw blood on him.
Police tried to talk him into coming outside but he barricaded himself in the home, the document said.
He later gave up.
CNN’s attempts to find an attorney for Hudson were not immediately successful.
Thomas Kamp, one of the people killed in the woods, bought the property in August and would camp there several weekends each month, family spokesman Steve Woodruff said. This trip was supposed to last from Saturday to Sunday. Kamp was Hannah Johnson’s fiance, Woodruff said.
Hudson has been charged with one count of murder, with bond at $2.5 million, Anderson County Sheriff Greg Taylor said Monday. Authorities expect more charges as the investigation uncovers information.
Taylor said the bodies of three men and a boy were found Monday in a pond behind Hudson’s house, which is near the campsite.
Woodruff told reporters Tuesday the other victims were Kamp’s sons Austin and Nathan, and Hannah Johnson’s 6-year-old son, Kade.
Cynthia Johnson was doing OK at a hospital, Woodruff said.
Anderson County is in east Texas between Dallas and Houston.
