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Grassy Creek murders
Man held in triple killing is arraigned
January 30, 2008
Independence, Va.
A man arrested in connection with last week's triple killing at a Christmas-tree farm in Grayson County, Va., made his first court appearance yesterday.
Frederick Phillip Hammer, 48, of Crumpler in Ashe County was arraigned in General District Court on three counts of capital murder in the shooting deaths of farm owner Ronald Hudler, 73; his son Fred Hudler, 44; and John Miller Jr., who worked for the tree grower.
Hammer remains in the New River Valley Regional Jail in Dublin, Va., with no bond allowed.
The Hudlers and Miller were killed Thursday morning. Authorities believe that Fred Huddler and Miller surprised Hammer as he was stealing money from a gunsafe in the garage of Ronald Hudler's home. They said that Ronald Hudler heard the shots and was killed when he came out to investigate.
Hammer left for Florida soon after being questioned by authorities, police said. He was arrested in Florida on Saturday. He waived extradition and was returned to Virginia on Monday.