Convicted Murderer Gets 60 Years for 2010 Oak Brook Slaying

A man convicted of murdering his ex-wife on New Year's Day 2010 outside an Oak Brook hotel was sentenced to 60 years behind bars by Judge Daniel Guerin Tuesday in DuPage County Court.

Around 6:30 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2010, 51-year-old Jerry Hudson shot then 45-year-old Melissa Bridgewater six times—three times in the head and three times in the back—while she was leaving a New Year's hotel party in her car, according to a release from DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin's Office.

"Once Bridgewater was inside her vehicle in the hotel parking lot, Hudson ran his car into Bridgewater’s car, preventing her from leaving the parking lot," the release reads. "Hudson then approached Bridgewater’s vehicle and shot her while she sat in the vehicle.

"Hudson then fled the scene and threw the murder weapon into a drainage canal. The murder weapon was never recovered." 

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The Chicago Tribune reported in this article from Feb. 28, 2012, the day Hudson was convicted by a jury, that the hotel was the Double Tree in Oak Brook, 1909 Spring Rd. The Trib reported that the couple had been divorced for several years at the time of the murder and that Hudson plotted the killing after finding out Bridgewater was seeing another man.

Berlin's release said Hudson was convicted of first-degree murder in February after the jury deliberated for two hours. He faced a minimum sentence of 45 years going into Tuesday's hearing.

"This morning, Mr. Hudson learned that for the murder of Melissa Bridgewater he will spend the rest of his life behind bars," Berlin said in the release. "I thank Judge Guerin for sending a message of deterrence that those who choose to resolve domestic disputes with violence will face significant consequences." 

Hudson is a former resident of Bolingbrook.