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Woman survived mass Texas slayings

The suspect in the murder of six campers in Texas had befriended the group during the weekend and helped tow a truck out of the mud.

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Source: AAP


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An elderly woman survived the slayings of six people at a Texas campsite by hiding in the woods for several hours before calling for help.

The woman was camping on private property in Palestine, 160km southeast of Dallas, with her husband, daughter, grandson and three non-relatives, the sheriff's office said.

The suspect in the killings is William Hudson, 33, whose family owns the property adjacent to the campsite.

Hudson befriended the group during the weekend and helped tow a truck out of the mud, according to police.

No motive has been released for the killings.

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Police said the identities of the victims will not be released until autopsies are completed.

The Palestine Herald-Press newspaper identified the survivor as Cynthia Johnson, whose husband, Carl Johnson, 77, and six-year-old grandson were among the victims.

The survivor described Hudson to police, who arrested him on Sunday.

He was charged with one count of murder and more charges are possible.

A man and woman were found dead in a campervan and the bodies of four males, including a child, were discovered in a pond behind Hudson's residence.


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