Patsy Hudson bones identified, suspects charged

MANSFIELD — Patsy Hudson has been found.

Richland County Prosecutor Bambi Couch Page announced during a press conference Tuesday Hudson’s bones were those authorities found earlier this year scattered at various sites across the northern part of the county.

The confirmation came after a DNA analysis from the Mansfield Police Department and a biological profile from Mercyhurst University was completed.

Both analyses were taken from skeletal remains authorities recovered shortly after arresting suspects Walter Renz and Linda Buckner at a campground in Hohenwald, Tenn. on Thursday, Feb. 4. The couple was arrested for receiving stolen property — a credit card — that belonged to Hudson.

Hudson, 62, of Mansfield, was last seen July 4, 2015.

Authorities recovered human remains Feb. 7, shortly after the couple’s arrests. According to Page, Renz and Buckner led authorities to the locations where they found the skeletal remains.

Police searched four locations in northern Richland County for the skeletal remains and requested that Forensic and Biological Anthropology professor Dennis Dirkmaat from Mercyhurst University to process the bones.

Page said Renz faces charges for aggravated murder, murder, aggravated robbery, robbery, aggravated burglary, two counts of burglary, abuse of a corpse, two counts of tampering with evidence, receiving stolen property and misuse of a credit card.

Renz pleaded not guilty on April 28 and has a trial date set for July 21 in the Richland County Common Pleas Court to be heard by Judge James DeWeese at 9 a.m.

Buckner also faces charges. Her indictment shows charges for aggravated robbery, robbery, aggravated burglary, two counts of burglary, abuse of a corpse, two counts of tampering with evidence, receiving stolen property and misuse of a credit card.

Buckner pleaded not guilty on May 3 and has a pretrial hearing set for May 17.