One of Ashe County’s most infamous murder cases took center stage Monday afternoon in the form of a preliminary hearing for Frederick P. Hammer.

Hammer, 48, is charged with the shooting deaths of three prominent area men on Jan. 24 on Ronald Hudler’s property in Virginaia. In the course of the afternoon, testimony from the Ashe County Sheriff’s Department, Grayson County Sheriff’s department, Virginia Commonwealth Medical Examiner’s office, and coworkers of the Hudler’s were collected.

After hearing nearly six hours of testimony, Judge Randall Duncan ruled that probable cause did exist for capital robbery charges and the case would be heard of in front of a grand jury. The case is scheduled to go to trial sometime in October, and Hammer was indicted on charges last month. Hammer was defended by attorney Jonathan Venzvie.

Testimony was first collected from members of the Ashe County Sheriff’s Department. Officer Steve Houck and Deputy Jeremy Williams provided their initial reactions upon entering the Hudler’s residence. Both officers noted the positioning of the bodies and the 25 caliber shell casings which were scattered throughout the crime scene. The officers also noted how there was some discussion of whether the crime scene was in Virginia or North Carolina, after learning that the property was indeed in Virginia, the investigation was handed over to the Grayson County Sheriff’s Department.

Assistant Chief Medical Examiner Amy Tharp of the Virginia Commonwealth’s Western District provided insight and additional details of the murders. The Medical Examiner’s office concluded that Ron Hudler was shot execution style while the firearm was held just a few inches from his head. Tharp explained that this was determined by the stippling and muzzle residue which was found on the victim’s scalp.

Fred Hudler died from four gunshot wounds, one to the back which penetrated his left lung, heart, and clavicle, a gunshot wound to the nose, and two gunshot wounds in the right and left sides of his head. Miller was struck with a blunt object before being shot twice in the head, according to testimony.

Mitch Osborne, a former employee of Hammer, provided additional information on the whereabouts and demeanor of Hammer on that fateful morning. Osborne recalled that Hammer had called him around 10 a.m. that morning and said he would be arriving in approximately 45 minutes to pick him up for work. In fact, Hammer did not arrive at Osborne’s residence until 1 p.m. that afternoon. Osborne also noted the change in Hammer’s manner.

“On most days, he is a jolly guy to be around and is always singing while he works,” Osborne said. “On that day, he was very quiet and looked as if he was upset about something.”

Osborne also noted that Hammer was wearing loafers or “summer shoes” when he picked him up that afternoon, which is unusual for January weather. State investigators would later find the remains of shoe laces from a pair of work boots buried in ashes at Hammer’s camp site in Cripple Creek, where he admitted he traveled on the day of the murder. The next day, Hammer had a new pair of boots.

Osborne discussed how Hammer had asked for him to help frantically look for a “Blue Tooth” cell phone headset that he had lost. A Blue Tooth ear piece would later be recovered at Hammer’s camp site in Cripple Creek.

The prosecution also presented photographs from footage shot at convenience store by a surveillance camera. Hammer’s truck was caught on camera traveling west on Hwy 58 at 10:22 a.m. past Rixie’s Market in Virginia toward the Cripple Creek area. His truck was also seen traveling west past the same location at 12:43 p.m.

Brian Hampton, a physical education teacher at Alleghany High School, traveled to the Cripple Creek area on Feb. 3 to look for any signs of Jimmy Blevins, a Crumpler man who disappeared on Feb. 24, 2007. Hammer had also been questioned about Blevins’ disappearance and is Blevins’ uncle by marriage. While combing through the area, something shiny caught Hampton’s attention out of the corner of his eye.

“As I was walking the fence line, I spotted a shimmer from a box out behind a tree. As I approached the box, I began to remove the limbs and leaves that had concealed it. What I saw was three briefcases and a safe. When I tried to pick up one of the briefcases with a stick, it opened and letters with Ron Hudler’s name fell out.” Hampton said.

Investigator Payton Colvard of the Ashe County Sheriff’s Department also traveled to Cripple Creek at a different time to search for Jimmy Blevins. While exiting the campground, Colvard found items with Ron Hudler’s name on it near Hammer’s camp site.

Prosecution also pointed out traces of burgundy paint on Hammer’s truck bumper that matched paint from Hudler’s lock safe. The safe had also been tilted on a pan and it was suggested that someone had tried to load the safe onto a truck. The lock safe took two keys to open and weighed over 800 pounds.

During the course of testimony and the admission of evidence, members from the victims’ families cried and gasps were exchanged when Hammer entered into the courtroom decked out in a red jumpsuit and had shackles on both his hands and feet. Hammer displayed a look of indifference through the hearing and often lowered his head when former employees or friends entered the room to testify against him. Officers armed with assault rifles provided additional security for the hearing which lasted well into the evening.