Murder suspect captured, facing trial

A woman authorities have pursued for nearly two months appeared Wednesday in Kitsap County Superior Court to face charges in the Aug. 31 shooting death of a mother of nine children.

Raven Hudson, 21, had been sought by Bremerton police and the U.S. Marshal’s Office since the killing occurred and was arrested Tuesday afternoon in Tacoma.

Hudson is charged with first-degree murder and possession of a controlled substance from an earlier amphetamine possession arrest. Not guilty pleas were entered Wednesday on Hudson’s behalf. She is being held on more than $1.5 million bail.

“We see that she has quite a history of felonies,” said Kitsap County deputy prosecutor Chris Casad during Wednesday’s arraignment. “At this point, she has no residence, no employment ties in the community.”

A representative for Hudson asked for $500,000 bail and explained Hudson has a parent living in the area, while bail remained higher “due to the serious nature of the offense.”

According to court documents, witnesses looked on as Hudson and Janet Eaton, 43, became involved in a verbal confrontation outside a Sixth Street residence in the early morning hours. Hudson left the scene on foot, returned on a bicycle, allegedly flashed a gun and after the words between the women continued, shot Eaton in the head from close range, witnesses said, before leaving again on the bicycle.

After Hudson’s arraignment, several friends and relatives of Eaton left the court room still grieving for their loss and eager to see justice done.

“I just want to get this over with. I’d like to see her do her time,” said Jay Risingsun, Eaton’s nephew and a close friend and neighbor to her and her children. “Her (21-year-old) son is the one who’s taking it the hardest.”

Risingsun explained it was too difficult for that young man to be present in the courtroom Wednesday. He also said that Eaton was turning a corner in getting her life back on track when she was killed.

“She was trying to get back on her feet,” Risingsun said. “I was trying to help her.”

Hudson will be back in court Nov. 23 with a trial scheduled to begin Dec. 19.

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