{"id":877,"date":"2023-07-16T20:49:49","date_gmt":"2023-07-16T20:49:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/used82.com\/?p=877"},"modified":"2023-07-16T20:49:49","modified_gmt":"2023-07-16T20:49:49","slug":"search-for-missing-mom-ends-after-her-son-talks-to-school-counselor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/used82.com\/?p=877","title":{"rendered":"Search For Missing Mom Ends After Her Son Talks To School Counselor"},"content":{"rendered":"

When a mother-of-three seemingly vanished without a trace, a desperate search was launched in hopes of reuniting her with her children. Nearly a month later, however, it came to a tragic end after her 8-year-old son made an admission to a school counselor.<\/h3>\n
\"Rebecca
Images of Rebecca Hoover and her children (Photo Credit:\u00a0GoFundMe<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Rebecca Hoover, a 38-year-old New Albany, Indiana mother-of-three, was reported missing when she seemingly vanished without a trace. After not hearing from Rebecca for days, her mother became increasingly worried and reported her missing, saying her disappearance was completely unlike her.<\/p>\n

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Although Rebecca had marital problems, her mother knew that, even if Rebecca had left her husband, she wouldn\u2019t have left her children behind. Authorities launched an investigation, hoping the devoted mother could be reunited with her three kids. Nearly a month later, however, Rebecca\u2019s 8-year-old son made a shocking confession to a school counselor that changed everything.<\/p>\n

\"Rebecca
Rebecca Hoover was attacked and killed in front of her son. (Photo Credit:\u00a0Facebook<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

More than three weeks after Rebecca was reported missing, her 8-year-old son told a counselor at his local elementary school that he had witnessed his mother\u2019s murder as her killer snuffed out her life right in front of him. According to the boy, his father, 50-year-old Judson Keith Hoover, killed his mother in the basement of their home, and the boy said he had watched the attack as it happened.<\/p>\n

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Authorities were called, and the boy described to police, in graphic detail, what he had witnessed weeks earlier, around the time his mother was reported missing,\u00a0The Courier-Journal<\/a>\u00a0reported. According to the boy, he saw \u201chis father stomp his mother in the head 20 times, wearing black boots, while she was lying on the ground next to a black refrigerator in the basement,\u201d\u00a0the probable cause affidavit<\/a>\u00a0said.<\/p>\n

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Judson Hoover (Photo Credit:\u00a0Facebook<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cThe child also observed Judson Hoover punch Rebecca Hoover in the stomach with a set of keys in his hands, but she was unresponsive and did not move,\u201d the affidavit continued, adding, \u201cThe child observed blood coming from Rebecca Hoover\u2019s head and left ear.\u201d After hearing the disturbing details, police approached Judson Hoover at the school when he arrived to pick up his children.<\/p>\n

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Detectives were given permission to search the Hoovers\u2019 property, where investigators found what appeared to be blood splatter at the bottom of the basement stairs. After receiving a tip from Rebecca\u2019s mother, authorities obtained a search warrant for a storage unit in New Albany. They reviewed security footage, which showed Judson Hoover moving what appeared to be a body into the unit.<\/p>\n

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Rebecca Hoover\u2019s body was eventually found in a 55-gallon drum in a storage unit. (Photo Credit:\u00a0Google Maps<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Judson Hoover was also seen on the security footage removing a 55-gallon container from the unit three and a half weeks later after he was interviewed by detectives. A second search warrant was obtained, allowing law enforcement to look at another storage unit in Louisville. There, Rebecca Hoover\u2019s remains were found in a 55-gallon container.<\/p>\n

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Following the grizzly discovery, Judson Hoover was arrested and charged with murder. When initially confronted with the revelation that Rebecca\u2019s body had been found, Judson alleged that Rebecca attacked him with a pipe first and he retaliated, according to the\u00a0Mirror<\/a>. However, photos of Judson at the time of his arrest showed no signs of injuries inflicted by such a weapon.<\/p>\n

\"Rebecca
Rebecca Hoover was violently murdered in her own home as her son watched the attack. (Photo Credit:\u00a0Google Maps<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Judson Hoover later pleaded guilty, telling the judge that he\u2019d strangled his wife to death before initially leaving her in the basement. However, her autopsy report painted a different picture. The medical examiner determined that Rebecca died of blunt force trauma to the head and torso, injuries consistent with their son\u2019s eyewitness account.<\/p>\n

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The victim\u2019s body was also mutilated, but Judson Hoover claimed he did not recall doing so, the\u00a0News and Tribune<\/a>\u00a0reported. Judson Hoover was given a maximum sentence of 65 years, according to\u00a0Floyd County Prosecutor Chris Lane<\/a>. He will serve his sentence in the Indiana Department of Correction.<\/p>\n

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Judson Hoover (Photo Credit:\u00a0Floyd County Jail<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sadly, Rebecca\u2019s murder was not the first sign of trouble in the Hoover marriage. Her family and friends told police and reporters that the couple\u2019s relationship had been abusive. In addition, Judson Hoover had been arrested and charged with a level 6 felony for domestic battery in the presence of a minor and a level 6 felony for strangulation just four months prior to his wife\u2019s disappearance.<\/p>\n

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According to court records, Rebecca had tried to get her husband to leave the house, at which point he took her cellphone, knocked her to the ground, and began kicking her in the face and neck. Eerily similar to the incident that later led to her death, Judson Hoover allegedly stomped Rebecca about 15 to 20 times, all in front of the couple\u2019s three children.<\/p>\n

\"Rebecca
Rebecca Hoover (Photo Credit:\u00a0Facebook<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cRebecca also advised Judson used his feet to apply pressure to Rebecca\u2019s neck, and she could not breathe,\u201d the arrest affidavit said. That day, Rebecca was rescued by the same son who, four months later, would witness her murder. The 8-year-old boy was able to flee to a neighbor\u2019s home, where he got the neighbor to call 911, according to\u00a0Fox 23<\/a>. Unfortunately, he was unable to save his mom a second time.<\/p>\n

Although there was previously a no-contact order against Judson Hoover following the domestic violence case, no order was in place at the time of Rebecca Hoover\u2019s death. After Judson was released on bail, the abusive relationship resumed. Hopefully, Rebecca\u2019s tragic death can serve a purpose.<\/p>\n

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Judson Hoover had a history of domestic violence. (Photo Credit:\u00a0Floyd County Jail<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cThis case is a brutal reminder of how\u00a0domestic violence<\/a>\u00a0in the home can lead to tragedy,\u201d Prosecutor Lane explained. \u201cThe strong sentence, in this case, is justified for the violent manner in which Ms. Hoover was taken from her family and her children and the attempts by the perpetrator to cover up his crime.\u201d<\/p>\n

We couldn\u2019t agree more with the prosecutor\u2019s sentiments, and we can only hope Rebecca Hoover\u2019s story motivates others who are in\u00a0abusive situations<\/a>\u00a0to seek help and get away from their abuser \u2014 before it\u2019s too late. If you or someone you love needs help, please call\u00a0The National Domestic Violence Hotline<\/a>\u00a0at 1-800-799-SAFE.<\/p>\n

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