The case began to unfold when the couple’s eight-year-old son confided in a school counselor, triggering a full-scale investigation. The child reportedly shared distressing details about what he had witnessed at home.
New Albany Police Chief Todd Bailey explained that the investigation gained momentum after Rebecca’s mother reported her missing on August 4. Officers initially found no signs of her at the residence on St. Joseph Road.
By late August, investigators began to suspect foul play. A series of search warrants were executed, and a forensic interview with a family member provided significant leads. On August 27, Rebecca’s remains were located and Judson Hoover was taken into custody.
The probable cause affidavit revealed statements made by the child, which included a description of a violent confrontation. In his plea, Judson acknowledged causing Rebecca’s death. Though he initially claimed she had been strangled, the medical examiner confirmed the cause of death as blunt force trauma, consistent with the child’s account.
Additional evidence, including surveillance footage and forensic analysis, tied Judson to the concealment of Rebecca’s body. Authorities reported that he used a rented vehicle to transport a container later found to hold Rebecca’s remains. Her body was discovered in a storage unit in Louisville.
Judson Keith Hoover’s guilty plea reportedly spared his son from testifying in court, bringing a measure of closure to a harrowing chapter for the family and community.