York County man convicted of first-degree murder in girlfriend's death

A York County man has been found guilty of first-degree murder for killing his girlfriend in 2021.

William Hudson, 52, of Fairview Township, told police he and his girlfriend, Catherine Hartman, began arguing around 2 a.m. on Saturday, June 26, 2021.

According to the affidavit, Fairview Township Police responded to the report of a domestic assault in the 600 block of Pleasant View Road at 9:54 a.m. and Curtis Hudson told dispatch that his son, William Hudson, “has a broken jaw” and his son’s girlfriend was “laying on the floor.”

He said there was blood everywhere.

Hartman was found dead in the kitchen/dining area of the house, and police said they witnessed a large amount of blood that appeared to be coming from her head, as well as a pistol on the floor beside her.

According to documents, Hudson was covered in blood when police found him in the living room of the house. His left eye was swollen shut, he appeared to be missing several front teeth and had “what appeared to be a bullet entry hole on the underside of his chin and a bullet exit hole in his forehead,” documents said.

When asked what he thought happened, Hudson reportedly told police, “I probably did it.” Police said he made that same admission at least two times in their presence.

An autopsy showed that Hartman suffered multiple gunshot wounds to her back, left arm and the back of her head.

Hudson is currently awaiting sentencing, with a hearing scheduled for Oct. 12.

Hartman worked as a traveling nurse for WellSpan of York, according to her obituary. She was a 1987 graduate of Cedar Cliff High School.

Lena Tzivekis is a Central Pa reporter. Email her at etzivekis@gannett.com, or message her on Twitter at @tzivekis

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: York County Pa. man found guilty of killing his girlfriend in 2021