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By Ed Meyer
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 05:32 p.m. EDT, Oct 22, 2009
A Hudson man pleaded guilty this afternoon to two counts of murder, aggravated arson and other offenses in the April beating death of his mother and brother at their home in Hudson.
Michael S. Knudson, 40, will be sentenced at 1:30 p.m. Nov. 20 by Summit County Common Pleas Judge Thomas A. Teodosio.
Autopsies by the Summit County Medical Examiner's Office determined that Patricia Knudson, 64, and her son John Knudson, 42, died from injuries to the head.
Their bodies — partially buried outside the family's fire-ravaged home — were found April 11 as authorities searched the 16-acre property on Connecticut Woods Drive.
Knudson set fire to the home April 5, and was arrested the following day at the Haven of Rest homeless shelter in Akron, where he had fled after the slayings.
In today's hearing, Michael D. Todd, the assistant prosecutor handling the case, asked the judge to sentence Knudson to 15 years to life for each murder and to run the terms consecutively for a total of 30 years before he becomes eligible for parole.
However, Teodosio allowed Knudson's sister, Kate Hoyman, to have her say after she flew in from her home in Colorado, thinking that the sentencing would proceed today.
Hoyman asked Teodosio for a sentence of 20 years to life, saying that she and two of her brothers were in agreement on a lesser sentence so that their brother would have some hope of a life after prison.
''It might be hard for some people to understand that . . . but I want the truth to set him free and all of us free,'' Hoyman said to the court.
Hoyman declined to comment afterward.
Knudson also pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence.
In exchange for his guilty pleas, the prosecutor agreed to dismiss two counts of murder by felonious assault; two counts of domestic violence; and two counts of abuse of a corpse.
According to the prosecution, the bodies were buried under a wood pile in the backyard of the home.
Knudson's defense lawyer, Donald R. Hicks, declined to comment after the hearing.
In previous proceedings, a psychological examination of Knudson by the court's Psycho-Diagnostic Clinic determined he was competent to stand trial.
After that ruling on Aug. 4, Knudson withdrew his motion for a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity.
A Hudson man pleaded guilty this afternoon to two counts of murder, aggravated arson and other offenses in the April beating death of his mother and brother at their home in Hudson.
Michael S. Knudson, 40, will be sentenced at 1:30 p.m. Nov. 20 by Summit County Common Pleas Judge Thomas A. Teodosio.
Autopsies by the Summit County Medical Examiner's Office determined that Patricia Knudson, 64, and her son John Knudson, 42, died from injuries to the head.
Their bodies — partially buried outside the family's fire-ravaged home — were found April 11 as authorities searched the 16-acre property on Connecticut Woods Drive.
Knudson set fire to the home April 5, and was arrested the following day at the Haven of Rest homeless shelter in Akron, where he had fled after the slayings.
In today's hearing, Michael D. Todd, the assistant prosecutor handling the case, asked the judge to sentence Knudson to 15 years to life for each murder and to run the terms consecutively for a total of 30 years before he becomes eligible for parole.
However, Teodosio allowed Knudson's sister, Kate Hoyman, to have her say after she flew in from her home in Colorado, thinking that the sentencing would proceed today.
Hoyman asked Teodosio for a sentence of 20 years to life, saying that she and two of her brothers were in agreement on a lesser sentence so that their brother would have some hope of a life after prison.
''It might be hard for some people to understand that . . . but I want the truth to set him free and all of us free,'' Hoyman said to the court.
Hoyman declined to comment afterward.
Knudson also pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence.
In exchange for his guilty pleas, the prosecutor agreed to dismiss two counts of murder by felonious assault; two counts of domestic violence; and two counts of abuse of a corpse.
According to the prosecution, the bodies were buried under a wood pile in the backyard of the home.
Knudson's defense lawyer, Donald R. Hicks, declined to comment after the hearing.
In previous proceedings, a psychological examination of Knudson by the court's Psycho-Diagnostic Clinic determined he was competent to stand trial.
After that ruling on Aug. 4, Knudson withdrew his motion for a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity.
Comments
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Akron, OH
Posted 05:57 PM, 10/22/2009
Over and done with in 8 mos... How'd bout we hurry up and get us some justice for Officer Miktarian. The guy confessed and plead, what's going on??
akron, oh
Posted 06:11 PM, 10/22/2009
Numberone: Engage!
akron, oh
Posted 07:43 AM, 10/23/2009
My Prayers are with the rest of the family.
Akron, OH
Posted 08:01 AM, 10/23/2009
@ Number One - Things were on track to sentence the murderer of Officer Miktarian, but a rather significant family emergency for the prosecutor in the case caused the delay. We've waited this long for justice for Josh and Holly, we shouldn't mind a little longer to insure the prosecutor can can be fully engaged in this stage of the process. We only get one shot at this sentencing phase. Prayers for Holly and for Knudson family.
uniontown, oh
Posted 08:11 AM, 10/23/2009
Everyone who feels the loss of this fine man in blue, and all who still believe or even care about justice in this country, will be waiting for the decision of three elected officials. I for one still believe in our system of justice and pray for the peace of the family involved.
Akron, Oh
Posted 08:27 AM, 10/23/2009
What is this world coming to .. What happen to honor thy mother , people are straight going nuts for no reason at all.
Akron, OH
Posted 08:44 AM, 10/23/2009
I, too, pray for peace for the family(s) involved. Each and every person effected by this will ultimately find their own way to peace. It will be different for every one of them – and will occur regardless of the ultimate fate of the perpetrators of these horrible crimes. The two cases being discussed here will likely lead to two very different outcomes. Both of the offenders plead guilty. Both will be sentenced by judges. One killed two people, the other killed one. And yet, our system of justice will almost certainly treat these two defendants differently. For one (the one that killed two people), there is no possibility of a sentence of death, for the other it is almost a foregone conclusion. Race is a factor. So is economic status. Those of you who don’t believe this is so are being naive. Those of you who believe it and don’t care need to consider the place of privilege from which you are making that assessment. No victim is more valuable than another. Treating their murders differently makes a mockery of that. Life without the possibility of parole for Officer Miktarian’s killer is as close as we are going to get to equal treatment for the offenders and equal respect for the deceased and all of those directly effected by these crimes.
Akron, Oh
Posted 09:02 AM, 10/23/2009
His attorney needs to get a new "RUG"!
akron, oh
Posted 09:15 AM, 10/23/2009
Meatball,
I agree. Sometimes I think our legal system is running on emotions.
AKRON, OH
Posted 09:28 AM, 10/23/2009
West Side LuggagePOSTED:His attorney needs to get a new "RUG"!.That is the new one,You should have seen the old one. LOL
AKRON, OH
Posted 09:42 AM, 10/23/2009
Just goes to show,Living in the inner city,Hudson,Stow.Crime and sickos are everywhere.Burning your own mother, 20 to 30 years.Sad
Numberone. There is something fishy about Officer Miktarian case.Why the secrecy,I agree what is taking so long?Is there something we do not know that they don't want to come out?If he is guilty kill him!!
Akron, OH
Posted 11:24 AM, 10/23/2009
I think the difference may be that the victims in this case are family members. A death sentence, or sentence without hope for Michael Knudson, would cause further injury to the surviving victims (Knudson's brothers and sister). Just a thought - you know, everything is not always about race...
akron, oh
Posted 11:45 AM, 10/23/2009
Because he's family, his sister requested a lesser time.
Josh Miktarian was a peace officer, one who puts his life on the line every day at work. They should be treated differently.
While I don't disagree with you Meatball, if this guy had been Josh's murderer, a death sentence would be likely as well.
AKRON, OH
Posted 11:49 AM, 10/23/2009
DIY10 Posted:everything is not always about race...
I personally was not speaking about race.But Ones surrounding,people have an notion of, because you live curtain places you hear all the time "OH not in my neighborhood".inner city, more than blacks live there.
I must agree with my2jsandone.Fifth commandment and the only one with a promise:HONOUR THY FATHER AND THY MOTHER, THAT THY DAYS MAY BE LONG UPON THE LAND WHICH THE LORD THY GOD GIVETH THEE.
Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Posted 11:51 AM, 10/23/2009
I lost my brother 5 years ago - I would give anything to be able to talk to him for just 1 minute. I cannot fathom hurting anybody, let alone your own brother and mother.
tallmadge, OH
Posted 12:06 PM, 10/23/2009
Since he pleaded guilty, does that mean he can't be executed?
Green, OH
Posted 01:31 PM, 10/23/2009
How nice that this killer's sister and brothers are pushing for a sentence that will give him hope for a release and a chance for a life on the outside.
I wonder if they would also be willing to have him live in their homes after such a release? Maybe the judge could specify that. Seems only fair.
Lefty Lemmingville, Oh
Posted 02:23 PM, 10/23/2009
Cripes, Numberone! Thought you were MaD! Scary!
akron, oh
Posted 06:33 PM, 10/23/2009
Mike Knudson does not deserve to die. My people know this guy, and I'm led to believe he has mental problems. I know the courts ruled that he was compitent; I believe otherwise. Mike was a very disturbed youth, in a family rife with tragidy. He needs to becared for, not executed. If you knew how painful it is to be him, you would empathize.
CuyahogaFalls, oh
Posted 08:34 AM, 10/24/2009
Opinions are like backsides, every body has one: I believe if you needlesy take a life you should give up your life.
Posted 09:08 AM, 10/24/2009
Wow where are the nasty attacks on this bomb,oh his is not Black thats why
akron, oh
Posted 11:04 AM, 10/24/2009
Tragedy... I know, my spelling is awful.
