Minoriteeburg
19-02-2006, 00:20
Man's death still a mystery
Parking tickets were stuck on vehicle in which Decatur resident was found
Saturday, February 18, 2006
By Leslie Williams of the Journal Star
PEORIA - Three parking tickets and a tow-away sticker had been placed on the sport utility vehicle in which a dead man's body was found last week.
Peoria police confirmed someone in the parking-enforcement division had issued the tickets and sticker to the SUV, which was parked illegally on Hamilton Boulevard near Methodist Medical Center.
The ticket writer did not see the body of Michael T. Hudson, a 46-year-old Decatur man reported missing Feb. 6, inside the black Mercedes.
His body was discovered in the back seat Feb. 9, when someone walked by and noticed a foot against the passenger-side, backseat window.
"A passer-by got up close enough and saw a (boot) pressed against a window and notified hospital security," Peoria police spokeswoman Ann Ruggles said. "(Hospital security) decided to wake the person up, and it wasn't working. They backed off and called police."
It was difficult to see inside the SUV because of the tinted back windows, said Peoria police Capt. Lisa Snow.
"I, myself, had to remove my sunglasses, cup my hands close to my eyes to remove the glare in order to see the individual in the back of the SUV," Snow said. "I knew what I was looking for, but I couldn't see him (when I was) standing outside the door."
Peoria police refused to provide information on who wrote the tickets, when they were
written and over how many days. They said Friday those details would be released only through a Freedom of Information request, which can take up to seven days for a response.
Police did say a vehicle can be issued several tickets in a day, depending on the violation and where it's parked.
Police oversee parking-enforcement officers, who are civilians, because they are part of the traffic division.
Snow said parking enforcement officers issue tickets and generally put them underneath the driver's side windshield wiper.
"The body was not visible on the driver's side," she added.
How long the SUV was parked along Hamilton - just steps from Methodist's emergency room, 221 NE Glen Oak Ave. - with Hudson inside was not known Friday and adds to the mystery surrounding his death.
Decatur police said Hudson's fiancee last saw him about 6:30 a.m. Feb. 4. She reported him missing two days later.
"She saw him leave for work and hadn't seen or spoke to (Hudson) since," Decatur police Sgt. Gary Buenting said.
A call to Hudson's Decatur home earlier this week was answered by a woman who identified herself only as his fiancee.
"I can't talk right now," she said, but added, "My husband had a heart attack. His heart stopped."
Hudson, the owner of a construction and remodeling company, often had construction projects outside Decatur, Buenting said.
Hudson also has two sisters in the Peoria area.
"We have no idea what happened," said one sister, Patti O'Connor of Dunlap. "We're leaving that up to the police and coroner to find out. It's been devastating for the family and his children."
Duane Funk, spokesman for Methodist, said Hudson had not visited the emergency room or been a patient at the hospital, which does not have security cameras near where the vehicle was parked. Hudson also was not involved in any work projects at the hospital.
"There was no apparent tie between him and Methodist," Funk said.
An autopsy performed the day after Hudson's body was found could not determine his cause of death, Peoria County Coroner Johnna Ingersoll said. There were no obvious injuries to his body. Toxicology tests are pending, but results won't be available for several weeks.
Another WTF story. Kinda amusing though given my dark sense of humor.
Parking tickets were stuck on vehicle in which Decatur resident was found
Saturday, February 18, 2006
By Leslie Williams of the Journal Star
PEORIA - Three parking tickets and a tow-away sticker had been placed on the sport utility vehicle in which a dead man's body was found last week.
Peoria police confirmed someone in the parking-enforcement division had issued the tickets and sticker to the SUV, which was parked illegally on Hamilton Boulevard near Methodist Medical Center.
The ticket writer did not see the body of Michael T. Hudson, a 46-year-old Decatur man reported missing Feb. 6, inside the black Mercedes.
His body was discovered in the back seat Feb. 9, when someone walked by and noticed a foot against the passenger-side, backseat window.
"A passer-by got up close enough and saw a (boot) pressed against a window and notified hospital security," Peoria police spokeswoman Ann Ruggles said. "(Hospital security) decided to wake the person up, and it wasn't working. They backed off and called police."
It was difficult to see inside the SUV because of the tinted back windows, said Peoria police Capt. Lisa Snow.
"I, myself, had to remove my sunglasses, cup my hands close to my eyes to remove the glare in order to see the individual in the back of the SUV," Snow said. "I knew what I was looking for, but I couldn't see him (when I was) standing outside the door."
Peoria police refused to provide information on who wrote the tickets, when they were
written and over how many days. They said Friday those details would be released only through a Freedom of Information request, which can take up to seven days for a response.
Police did say a vehicle can be issued several tickets in a day, depending on the violation and where it's parked.
Police oversee parking-enforcement officers, who are civilians, because they are part of the traffic division.
Snow said parking enforcement officers issue tickets and generally put them underneath the driver's side windshield wiper.
"The body was not visible on the driver's side," she added.
How long the SUV was parked along Hamilton - just steps from Methodist's emergency room, 221 NE Glen Oak Ave. - with Hudson inside was not known Friday and adds to the mystery surrounding his death.
Decatur police said Hudson's fiancee last saw him about 6:30 a.m. Feb. 4. She reported him missing two days later.
"She saw him leave for work and hadn't seen or spoke to (Hudson) since," Decatur police Sgt. Gary Buenting said.
A call to Hudson's Decatur home earlier this week was answered by a woman who identified herself only as his fiancee.
"I can't talk right now," she said, but added, "My husband had a heart attack. His heart stopped."
Hudson, the owner of a construction and remodeling company, often had construction projects outside Decatur, Buenting said.
Hudson also has two sisters in the Peoria area.
"We have no idea what happened," said one sister, Patti O'Connor of Dunlap. "We're leaving that up to the police and coroner to find out. It's been devastating for the family and his children."
Duane Funk, spokesman for Methodist, said Hudson had not visited the emergency room or been a patient at the hospital, which does not have security cameras near where the vehicle was parked. Hudson also was not involved in any work projects at the hospital.
"There was no apparent tie between him and Methodist," Funk said.
An autopsy performed the day after Hudson's body was found could not determine his cause of death, Peoria County Coroner Johnna Ingersoll said. There were no obvious injuries to his body. Toxicology tests are pending, but results won't be available for several weeks.
Another WTF story. Kinda amusing though given my dark sense of humor.