Two arrested in connection to murder of St. Augustine woman

The investigation in to a St. Augustine woman’s disappearance ends with police finding her remains.

Law enforcement isn’t releasing many details at this time, citing where they are in the still active investigation. We have now confirmed that 38-year-old John Branson has been arrested for the murder of Jordie Hudson, and 29-year-old Christeen Thomas has been arrested for accessory to murder.

St. Augustine Police don't believe Branson and Hudson had any prior relationship with each other and they also haven't yet determined the motive for the murder. We're told Hudson was last seen at the Giggling Gator on King Street April 9^th, and Branson left there with her.

“Coming up with a person of interest to start with was very difficult,” says St. Augustine Police Chief Loran Lueders.

It was only in the last few days that police were able to piece together Hudson’s last known locations and identify who she was with. Once a person of interest was identified, Lueders says their work came together quickly.

“He led us back to where we found remains, and we’re assuming- at this point- that it is the remains of Jordie Hudson,” Lueders says.

Hudson was actually reported missing be her mother on April 14, and then on the 15^th the Police Department responded to a suspicious incident on Cedar Street where they believed Hudson may have been the victim of foul play. Information started flowing during a neighborhood canvass on the 16^th, including locating a car believed to be involved in what happened.

Branson was detained without incident Tuesday, and led police to the remains on CR 208.  Police won’t say at this time what role Thomas played that led to the accessory charge. We’re told she was connected through Branson, and is also being cooperative with the ongoing investigation.

While the investigation is still ongoing, Luederes says they have no reason to believe anyone else was involved in this crime so there is no continued danger in the community.

St. Johns County Sheriff David Shoar was also on hand for the announcement of the murder arrests. He hailed the cooperation the agencies have had in recent weeks while dealing with several high-profile crimes, including a double homicide and the disappearance of a priest, whose remains have now been recovered in Georgia.