Milton dad arrested in son's slaying

A father is in jail this week, accused of murdering his son and leaving the unburied body to decompose in the backyard. Despite the brutality of the alleged crime, sources describe both father and son as friendly, likable men.

	Hudson

Police found remains consistent with the description of 19-year-old Spencer Ashing Friday, March 26, at the home of his father Michael Hudson, in the Collins and Russell manufactured home development. Delaware State Police said they discovered the decomposing body, covered by a tarp, within yards of the home where Ashing also lived, off Route 16 west of Milton. An autopsy revealed the victim died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds and blunt-force trauma, police say.

A redacted court document stated: “Although the body has not been positively identified due to extreme decomposition, it is reasonable to suspect the body is that of [redacted information]. This reasonableness is based on: the body is male, the body is located within close proximity of the residence of [redacted information] is reported missing. The body is consistent with the height of Spencer Ashing.”

Police arrested Hudson, 58, at about 10:30 a.m., Friday, March 26, after they recovered a .357-caliber revolver in Hudson’s possession. Hudson was jailed without bail at Sussex Correctional Institution and was charged with murder in the first degree, police reports show.

	Ashing

The father and son lived at the end of Russell Street near an open field in a home with broken windowpanes and a yard strewn with old furniture and garbage.

Neighbor Eric Enck, a 33-year-old writer who has lived across the street from the father and son for two years, was friendly with Hudson. Enck said Hudson and Ashing had a fiery relationship marked by frequent arguments and physical violence.

Ashing lived on and off at his father’s 14350 Russell St. residence, often leaving for weeks at a time following arguments with his father, said Enck.

“The son seemed to treat the father pretty bad. He was always yelling at the dad. I would let the father come over, have a cigarette and vent,” said Enck. “He wanted him to get a job. Every time he came over, he would say, ‘My son’s doing drugs.’”

Last summer, Enck said Hudson told him that Ashing had broken his hand. Ashing left the house soon after, returning later.

Drug deal gone bad

After February’s snowstorms, Ashing left the home again and went missing, said Enck.

Enck said Hudson told him there had been a problem over a drug deal gone bad. “That was the last straw,” he said.

Enck said Hudson said an unknown man who was involved in the soured deal vandalized Hudson’s car.

“The other person did something to the engine so it wasn’t receiving oil. There was also physical damage to the car,” said Enck. “I didn’t know at that point that the son dropped out of school.”

Hudson was a part-time custodian at H.O. Brittingham Elementary School in Milton and occasionally at Rehoboth Elementary School, say school officials. He earned about $10,000 a year, Enck said.

Enck said Hudson frequently complained about President Barack Obama, the failing economy and the difficulty Hudson was having finding steady work. He said Hudson told him he had filled out thousands of job applications.

According to court documents, a police detective investigating the case was told Hudson said he was “going to finish [redacted information] off and that no one would have to worry about them anymore. The source also said, “Michael commented that he would not have to worry about a place to live because he would be on death row, and that [redacted information] would not be around anymore.”

Enck said despite his problems, during February’s blizzards, Hudson helped to clear roads and neighbors’ driveways. “During that time the son was decomposing, we took [Hudson] grocery shopping and let him shower here. He was not well off. He didn’t have a job. He had no money,” said Enck.

“I can’t help but say I like Mike. I still do. He helped everyone out. In my personal opinion, he snapped,” said Enck.

Enck, who said he was also an acquaintance of Ashing but never associated with him a great deal, said many high school students liked Ashing very much.

Last Saturday, March 27, Enck said 60 to 70 people gathered about Hudson’s home for a eulogy.

“People were crowded there with candles. As you know, there’s two sides to every story. I know the father was scared of the kid,” said Enck.

Friend: Ashing was abused

Nicole Sheppard, 18, of Millsboro, dated Ashing as a freshman at Cape Henlopen High School and the two remained friends. She said Ashing’s father frequently abused him, at times, in front of her.

“His dad hit him. His dad was really aggressive with him. He was afraid of his dad. I just remember nights where he would call me just crying. I remember when we were dating, he would cut his chest just to let it go and stuff,” she said.

Despite Ashing’s struggles, she said he was very funny and got along with everyone. “Everyone loved him. He was always the person who would talk to everyone and anyone. Tons of people loved him,” she said.

She also recalled spending time with Ashing and friends in Rehoboth Beach. “At the Boardwalk, he was one of the kids who was friends with everyone there. He was a really good person.”

Friends of both father and son find Ashing’s alleged murder bewildering.

“He didn’t deserve that at all. He deserved to be able to make a better life than his parents gave him. That’s how I feel. He didn’t have the best life, but he could’ve done something to make his life better,” said Sheppard.

For Enck, Hudson’s behavior is incomprehensible. “He hid it. He did it without remorse. His candor was normal. I wouldn’t have expected that,” said Enck. “It’s horrible. I feel bad for the dad. If he came over here right now, I would still invite him for a cup of coffee. I never would have expected it. That’s the classic line. He was the quietest guy on the street,” said Enck.

“Out of all the places in Delaware, it happened right here. I think that the situation’s getting worse. You got cops getting killed. You got Dr. Bradley and now this,” he said.