MANSFIELD — The Richland County prosecutorial team requested it and Richland County Common Pleas Court Judge James DeWeese administered it: the maximum penalty.
Linda Buckner will spend the rest of her life in prison after a five-man, seven-woman jury found her guilty on all charges Wednesday for her involvement in what the state described as the grisly death of Patsy Hudson.
“It was a calculated scheme to take this woman who was a big-hearted woman who was alone. And then killing her, taking her money and concealing the body — and dismembering her body,” Richland County Common Pleas Court Judge James DeWeese said moments before his sentence.
“That’s an extremely perverted, and perverse offense that you committed.”
Buckner’s trial started Thursday, Nov. 17. The 58-year-old was charged with aggravated murder, murder, aggravated robbery, robbery, aggravated burglary, two counts of burglary, abusing a corpse, two counts of tampering with evidence, receiving stolen property and misusing a credit card.
The charges stem from a probe into the death of Patsy Hudson, 62, who went missing from her Mansfield home at 284 Spring Street in July 2015. Her body parts were found scattered in seven different Richland County locations in February.
Buckner and Walter Renz were apprehended at a campground in Tennessee after authorities tracked down the use of Hudson’s stolen credit card.
Renz, Buckner’s boyfriend, also faces aggravated murder and murder charges, along with numerous other charges, including tampering with evidence and abuse of a corpse in April. He was re-indicted in May with one additional charge: identity fraud.
His case is pending indefinitely because he was found incompetent to stand trial in October.
Victims advocate Michelle Krill read a letter to DeWeese written by Lonnie Clevenger Jr., Hudson’s son before the sentencing on Wednesday.
“She would say we’re all God’s children and told me we were once without and not to forget where we came from,” Krill read. She finished the letter by reading a Bible verse that Clevenger cited:
“No weapon formed against you shall prosper. Isaiah 54:17,” Krill said.
