Search for woman’s accused killer leads to kidnapping victim’s rescue, IL cops say

Police searching for a woman’s accused killer found the man they say is responsible and rescued a kidnapping victim in the process, Illinois authorities say.

Gregory Hudson, 65, of Chicago, is charged with murder, concealing a homicide, kidnapping, arson and sexual assault, and was arrested Thursday, Sept. 11, police told WFLD.

According to police, the investigation began with a garage fire on Chicago’s south side. Firefighters put out the flames, then made a grim discovery in the garage — a woman’s remains inside of a bag, police said in a news release. Officials haven’t publicly identified the victim, who they said was a 36-year-old woman.

Leading up to the fire, witnesses told investigators they saw a man get out of a vehicle, haul a bag into the garage, then pour a liquid in and around the structure before leaving the scene.

Investigators found the vehicle, and then arrested its owner on the evening of Sept. 11, police said.

“Investigation revealed the owner of the vehicle was responsible for the murder of the victim who was found inside the burning garage,” authorities said.

During the investigation, police “also learned (Hudson) had kidnapped a second female victim,” and that woman was with Hudson when police took him into custody.

Police say the kidnapping victim had been sexually assaulted and witnessed Hudson kill the other woman.

Hudson shot the woman to death, police told WBBM.

Authorities say Hudson is a “four-time convicted felon.”