Man charged with murder in the killing of 75-year-old Olathe woman
A man is charged with murder in connection with the killing of a 75-year-old Olathe woman last week, court records show.
Dartanan Hudgens, 47, was charged Friday with first-degree premeditated murder in Johnson County District Court. Hudgens is accused of killing Karen Peterson, 75, who was found dead in a home April 30.
Officers responded to the 400 block of North Persimmon Drive around 11:05 a.m. Wednesday to conduct a welfare check on Peterson, according to Officer Sean Wilkes, a police spokesperson.
Officers found Peterson deceased inside the home, Wilkes said. Her cause of death has not yet been released, but police investigated the case as a homicide.
The killing is Olathe’s third homicide this year, according to data tracked by The Star. In 2024, Olathe recorded two homicides on the entire year.
Hudgens is being held at the Johnson County Detention Center on a $1 million bond. He is due to appear in court 1:30 p.m. May 5 in Division M2 of Johnson County District Court.
This story was originally published May 4, 2025 at 8:51 AM.
