A man has been charged with killing a woman in Ferguson early Monday
Rodney Hubbard, 32, is charged with causing the woman’s death.
FERGUSON, Mo. — A man has been charged in the death of his mother, whose body was found Monday morning in a Ferguson backyard.
Rodney Hubbard, 32, is charged with second-degree murder, armed criminal action and tampering with physical evidence.
Just before 2:30 a.m., Ferguson Police officers responded to a call for a welfare check in the 7400 block of Blanding Drive in Ferguson. When officers arrived, they found an unresponsive woman in the backyard of the home covered in plastic, with a bed sheet, comforter, tree branches and a wheelbarrow on top of her, the probable cause statement said. She suffered several severe injuries to her face and the back of her head.
She was pronounced dead at the scene. Police identified her Thursday as 62-year-old Rochelle Hubbard.
St. Louis County Police said the suspect and victim live at the same address. They said Rochelle was Rodney’s mother.
Ferguson police have asked the St. Louis County Police Department to take over the investigation into the woman’s death.
The police investigation led to Rodney Hubbard, who made “several incriminating statements” to police throughout the investigation, the probable cause statement said.
Kashia Harris moved to the neighborhood two months ago and lives a few doors down from where the crime occurred. She described what happened as “shocking” and recalled having a short conversation with her now deceased neighbour. Her dog’s barking during the early morning hours was the only thing that alerted her that something was wrong.
“I’ve only been here a couple of months, and we talked right after I moved in. You just asked me how I like the house?” Harris said.
Harris has a soon-to-be 3-year-old daughter, and says crime is another reason to beef up her security system.
One year ago, in June 2022, there was another homicide in the home where a man was found dead on the floor of his living room. Gunshots were fired from outside the house and hit him.
“It’s like now you have to be more protective, have more security and invest in cameras,” Harris said.
Neighbors on the street told 5 On Your Side that police are asking residents for Ring camera footage.
“This is tragic on so many levels,” St. Louis County District Attorney Wesley Bell said in a statement Monday afternoon. “There are surviving family members who will likely never be able to process this type of senseless loss of life or “Healing from it.”
Rodney Hubbard is being held on a $2 million cash-only bond, with a 10% lien allowed.
Anyone with information about the homicide is asked to call the St. Louis County Police Department at 636-529-8210. To remain anonymous, call CrimeStoppers at 866-371-8477.
This is a developing story. 5 On Your Side will update the information when confirmed.
Resources for victims of crime:
The St. Louis Crime Victims Center has multiple programs to support victims of crime. The Center for Victims of Crime’s programs range from direct services to victims of crime as well as “creating awareness and change within the systems they encounter.”
Life Beyond Violence “helps those affected by stabbings, shootings or assaults get the treatment, support and resources they need to find alternatives to end the cycle of violence.”
The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis has a Neighborhood Healing Network, which serves people who have experienced crime or violence or been the victim of an accident that caused trauma.
