Christy Hudgens, age 35, reportedly succumbed to injuries sustained in a tragic house fire that occurred at 9509 Old Highway 52 at approximately 12:30 p.m. Sunday, July 27.
Investigators spent all day Monday at the scene trying to determine what caused the tragic fire. The tragedy happened in the small community of Siloam, just west of Lafayette.
According to a fire report from Lafayette Fire Chief Keith Scruggs, the LFD was not the first to respond. Westmoreland responded and requested assistance from the LFD. The LFD arrived at approximately 12:57 p.m. and found the house totally engulfed in flames.
The home, occupied by James and Christy Hudgens, owned by Jerry Driver, is a total loss. The husband, James Hudgens, was able to escape without injury. Chief Scruggs was unable to determine if any animals were lost in the fire.
Evidence first released indicated that the fire was started because of a domestic altercation. This is undetermined at this time and according to authorities is really irrelevant to the investigation. Television news media reported in the beginning that Christy Hudgens had originally set fire to her own home; authorities have now released this to be true.
The State Fire Marshall conferred with the Tennessee Bomb and Arson Squad when they arrived on the scene and began investigating the incident. Special Operations Team Leader Johnny Hayes commented on the fire.
Hayes said, "There is really very little I can say about the incident until all the evidence is gathered. I can explain that when something of this magnitude occurs we come in from all over the state to investigate. I have about 10 people on my team, including two K-9 units, and we are striving to do the best we can. We should know something very shortly." He also said that something like this is always bad when a life is lost.
Late Monday night the investigation appeared to come to an end.
According to Macon County Sheriff Joe Ferguson, the State Arson division completed the investigation about 3 p.m. and presented their findings to other agents.
It was believed that three separate fires were set in the house. One was believed to have started in the south corner of the living room, apparently from a chair. The second from the bedroom on a bed and the third from a basket of clothes. There were no volatile substances found, meaning no electrical shortage or gasoline were discovered at the scene.
James Hudgens and his son cooperated with authorities and even submitted to a polygraph test. The son, Joshua Glen Hudgens was outside at the time of the fire. According to the polygraph examiner, both tests were passed 100%.
Sheriff Ferguson reported that the lead agent should finish his report within days with the victim allegedly being the lead suspect.
Hudgens' body was removed from the home early Monday morning and transported to Nashville where the autopsy examiner, Dr. Levy, found that Hudgens had died from smoke inhalation.
According to Sheriff Ferguson, Hudgens had a history of prescription drug abuse and had been in several rehab centers. Authorities are still waiting on her toxicology report to determine whether drugs were present in her system.
A fund has been set up in the Hudgens family name at Citizens Bank in Westmoreland. To make a donation or for more information call 644-2119.
With the recent amount of crime that has erupted in Macon County Sheriff Ferguson was questioned as to whether he had the man power to handle this type of crime spree.
Sheriff Ferguson stated, "We can handle any type of crime, but we have an agreement with the TBI that when a homicide is reported they are brought in on the beginning instead of waiting until the middle of the investigation and having to catch them up." He also said, "I have no idea why we have suddenly erupted with crime, but I hope it stops soon."
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