Bend woman facing murder charge in death of grandmother, 92

A 45-year-old Bend woman was arraigned Monday afternoon on murder and other charges in the New Year’s Eve death of the 92-year-old grandmother she was caring for. She’s also accused of withholding needed care and stealing property, including medications and cash.

According to an initial charging document filed by the Deschutes County District Attorney’s Office, Angela Christine Judd — initially arrested late Friday on a murder charge — also is charged with two counts of first-degree criminal mistreatment and one count of first-degree theft involving Nada Bodholdt, 92, of Bend.

The listed murder count said the killing involved “a vulnerable victim,” an aggravating factor, according to the document, called a “district attorney’s information,” filed by Deputy District Attorney Matthew Nelson.

The first count of alleged criminal mistreatment said Judd had “assumed the care, custody and responsibility for the supervision of” Bodholdt, and that on or between Dec. 13 and Dec. 31 she “unlawfully and knowingly withheld necessary and adequate physical care” from the woman.

The second count claims that between Dec. 13 and Jan. 1, Judd took and appropriated “property and/or money” belonging to Bodholdt.

The theft charge claims that between those two dates, Judd committed “theft of medications and U.S. currency, of the value of $1,000 or more.

District Attorney John Hummel asked the court to schedule a preliminary hearing to decide whether probable cause exists to continue the case against the defendant.

The preliminary hearing would be open to the public. The court directed District Attorney Hummel to file a written request for a preliminary hearing.

“Nada Bodholdt’s death was a tragedy and was unnecessary,” Hummel said. “This case presents a novel legal issue regarding statements made by the defendant. The state will ask the court to resolve the legal issue in the preliminary hearing process and won’t comment on these statements unless and until the court rules them admissible.”

Judd’s next court hearing is set for Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 1:30 p.m.

A woman who answered the door at Judd’s northeast Bend home Monday told NewsChannel 21 the family doesn’t want to comment on her arrest.

In a brief news release Saturday morning, police Lt. Clint Burleigh announced the arrest and identified the victim but otherwise offered no details about the circumstances of the crime or the investigation, only saying that the alleged homicide occurred in Bend on Dec. 31 at about 9:30 p.m.