Lake City police: Man charged with homicide, claims he killed boy's mother in the child's defense

LAKE CITY, Fla. — A man was arrested on suspicion of homicide after he claimed he killed a 14-year-old boy's mother in the child's defense.

The Lake City Police Department said the woman was found dead Thursday night at an apartment on NW Huntsboro Street.

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Police were first called to the area after getting a call from a woman who said Nathan Hudgins was knocking at her door, carrying a 14-year-old boy who was crying and bleeding, according to a release from LCPD.

Hudgins told the neighbor to call police because the mother had "beat the child" and then later said the mother was "in the house and is dead."

Hudgins was taken to LCPD headquarters for questioning, where he said he killed the 14-year-old boy's mother and said he "would do it again," the release said. Hudgins told police he took a piece of wood and struck the mother in the face several times.

Hudgins, who had lived with the mother and child for a year and a half, said he was tired of seeing the mother mistreat her child. Police said Hudgins also said, "As long as my kid is OK, I'm happy with that," though the boy is not his child and he was not married to the woman.

Hudgins is being held without bond, and the Florida Department of Children and Famililes is investigating as well.

The identity of the woman killed has not been released at this time.

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Cox Media Group