Coroner identifies body as that of missing Horry County author

MARION - The Marion County Coroner has identified a body discovered last night in the Great Pee Dee River as that of a missing Horry County author, whose books profiled some of the state’s most infamous murders.

Coroner Jerry Richardson says an autopsy on William Dale Hudson, 56, did not determine a cause of death. Richardson says he in now awaiting toxicology results.

Richardson says there is no evidence foul play was involved.

According to Horry County Police, Hudson’s wife told investigators that her husband left their home near Conway around 8:00 am Wednesday, for a business trip.

She said she last heard from him about three hours later, when he called complaining of a migraine.

She said he planned to pull off and rest, and would call her when he stopped. But she never heard from him.

On Friday, investigators said they found the car Hudson was driving in a wooded area in Marion County.

Two fishermen spotted Hudson’s body Saturday around 8:30 p.m. in the Pee Dee River two miles south of the U.S. 76 bridge.
Among Hudson’s books is “Dance of Death.“

Stay with scnow.com, News 13 and the Morning News for more on this developing story as information becomes available.