Grassy Creek murders

Ron Hudler (above left), a retired automobile executive, owned Hudler Carolina Tree Farms with his three sons. He was shot to death in his home in Grassy Creek Jan. 24. He had hired Hammer to do odd jobs.

Fred Hudler (above center) was Ron Hudler’s son. He was shot to death in his father's driveway on Jan. 24, leaving two sons.

John Miller Jr. had worked for the tree business for three months when he was shot to death in Hudler’s garage Jan. 24. He left a wife and infant daughter.

Case Documents

Ashe County Warrants

• Search of Freddie Hammer's home on Jan. 26, 2008

• Search of Freddie Hammer's home on Jan. 27, 2008.

• Search of West Jefferson home of John Frohmander, Freddie Hammer's stepfather, on Jan. 27, 2008

• Search of West Jefferson home of John Frohmander, Freddie Hammer's stepfather, on Jan. 26, 2008

 

Wythe County, Va. Warrants

• Search of Freddie Hammer's camper in Cripple Creek, Va. at 5:16 a.m. Jan. 27, 2008

• Search of Freddie Hammer's camper in Cripple Creek, Va. at 5:40 p.m. Jan. 27, 2008

• Affadavit attached to Wythe County search warrants

Articles

• Killing details emerge: Bullet casings match caliber of missing guns (1/31/08)

• Man held in triple killing is arraigned (1/30/08)

• Suspect did time in 1978 killing (1/29/08)

• 3 charges of murder filed (1/29/08)
Man held in Florida the sole suspect, sheriff says, in Grayson deaths

• Florida holds N.C. man with link to killings (1/27/08)

• 3 killed when robbers went after cash safe (1/26/08)
Tree-farm owner, his son and one worker were shot

• Tree farmer, son are among three found shot to death (1/25/08)