Former Illinois Capitol Police officer going to jail

TAYLORVILLE — A former Illinois Capitol Police investigator involved in an April 2021 car wreck will be spending 18 years behind bars.

Robert Hodson, 48, of Taylorville was involved in an accident in Christian County resulting in the deaths of two fellow Taylorville residents. The accident occurred along Illinois Route 48 near East 1550 North Road between Taylorville and Stonington

Hodson pled guilty to a single charge of driving under the influence of alcohol in May. Hodson was initially facing up to 20 years in prison.

The accident would result in the deaths of Haley Shoot, 19, and Zaydin Dudra, 20. A third person was injured in the crash, but would eventually recover.

An investigation by the Illinois State Police determined that Hodson crossed the left lane with his 2018 Jeep Wrangler. He was attempting to pass another vehicle when he struck Shoot’s car head-on.

Hodson will have to serve 85% of the sentence, or roughly 15 years and four months, before release. After a potential release in 2039, he will also need to serve 18 months under mandatory supervision.

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Jake Leonard, Executive Editor-In-Chief

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Jake Leonard, a broadcast media and journalism veteran, is the editor-in-chief of Heartland Newsfeed. Leonard is also GM and program director of Heartland Newsfeed Radio Network, wrestling editor and contributing writer for Ambush Sports, a contributing writer for My Sports Vote and Midwest Sports Network, and a former contributor to Bleacher Report and Overtime Heroics. He resides at home in Nokomis, Ill. with his dog Buster.

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