James Hudson plead guilty to one count of capital murder one first-degree murder charge in the deaths of brothers Walter Stanley Cole and Thomas Wesley Cole, and his wife Patsy Ayers Cole.  All three were killed on July 3, 2002 from shotgun blasts at close range. The murders were attributed to long standing animosity between Hudson and the Cole family who were his neighbors.

Hudson was found guilty, and after refusing to present mitigating evidence, he was sentenced to death. On May 12, 2003, Hudson signed a waiver of his right to appeal his death sentence. Virginia law, however, requires that the Virginia Supreme Court review the sentence.  Hudson's death sentence was affirmed by the Virginia Supreme
Court on January 16, 2004.  Hudson entered Virginia’s death row on April 17, 2003.

 

James Hudson refused to file state or federal appeals and did not seek clemency.  He was executed by the Commonwealth of Virginia on August 18, 2004.