Break in triple murder ends in plea deal for Frederick Hammer

A recent discovery in a Grayson County triple-murder ends in a plea deal for Frederick Hammer who will spend the rest of his life behind bars without parole. Police found three men, Ron and Frederick Hudler and John Miller shot to death at the Hudler Christmas tree farm. Police arrested Hammer three days later in Florida.

Hammer pled guilty on Friday morning to several felony charges including capital murder. The charges date back to January 2008.

The big break in the case came when officers found a .22 magnum rifle and money stolen from one of the victims buried in a barn in the Cripple Creek area. The property belonged to one of Hammer’s acquaintances. According to a press release, the rifle’s serial number matched a rifle sold to Hammer in the 1990s. The broken scope on the rifle matched debris found on the scene of the crime.

Officers knew where to go to find the evidence because of some letters that recently surfaced. Apparently Hammer had talked to a fellow inmate about going to the area to get rid of the gun when the man got out, and he would be able to keep some of the money. Grayson County’s Commonwealth Attorney, Douglas Vaught, said the inmate wrote letters to someone outside of jail explaining the plan; however, officers later found those letters.

Vaught said Hammer had indicated to the other inmate there was $10,000 buried.

Hammer was sentenced to five capital life sentences without parole, two additional non-capital life sentences, an additional 23 years and fines totaling $600,000. Under the plea agreement, the sentence cannot be appealed.