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N.C. Christmas Tree Farmer, Son And Worker Found Slain; Authorities Suspect Burglars
January 25, 2008
BOONE, N.C. -- Authorities in Virginia say two North Carolina men were among three who were shot to death on property belonging to a tree farmer who once presented a Fraser Fir for the White House Christmas tree.
Grayson County Sheriff Richard A. Vaughan identifies the victims as Ronald F. Hudler, 74, of Mouth of Wilson, Va.; his son, Frederick D. Hudler, 45, and John S. Miller, 25, both of West Jefferson in Ashe County.
Ronald Hudler owned and operated Hudler Carolina Tree Farms with his three sons. The company has several farms in North Carolina and in Grayson County. He was also chairman of the North Carolina Department of Labor's Agricultural Safety and Health Council.
In 1995, an 18-foot-tall tree from a Hudler farm became the White House Christmas tree.
The fatal shootings occurred around 10:30 a.m. Thursday on Charles Spencer Drive, off Route 16 near the North Carolina border. Frederick Hudler and Miller had been working on the tree farm and returned to Ronald Hudler's home, where they were confronted by people in the garage who were attempting to steal a gun safe, the sheriff's office said. Both were killed.
Ronald Hudler apparently heard the gunfire and was shot when he went outside to investigate, authorities said. He often kept considerable amounts of money in the safe, and he employed nearly 50 workers during the Christmas tree harvest season, authorities said. They plan to interview all the workers, but are not calling any suspects at this time.
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http://www.wsoctv.com/news/15136711/detail.html
VIEW THE HUDLER TREE FARM WEB PAGE...
http://www.hudlertrees.com/
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