Quintin Leon Hudson, 21, was sentenced on Dec. 12 to more than 12 years after pleading guilty in October to one count of fleeing a peace officer resulting in death and one count of fleeing a peace officer resulting in great bodily harm.
Hudson was charged after causing the death of Emily Gerding and severe injury to her husband, John Gerding, while fleeing from a traffic stop in July 2023.
“My thoughts are with Emily’s family, especially her husband, John, and their children,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said. “John and Emily worked as special education teachers. They made a difference in the lives of so many members of our community. While the impact of this tragedy is most acutely felt by Emily’s family, our community now suffers as well. Mr. Hudson’s reckless actions took one life and affected many more. This sentence holds him accountable and will protect our community.”
Court documents say Hudson was fleeing police in Robbinsdale on the evening of July 8, 2023, when he crashed into a vehicle carrying Emily and John Gerding at nearly 100 mph. Emily, a 34-year-old mother of two, was killed and her husband was badly injured. Records check showed Hudson didn’t have a valid driver’s license, only an operator’s permit.
At the time of the crash, law enforcement said there was reason to believe Hudson was under the influence of a controlled substance.
The Gerdings both worked as special education teachers in the Anoka-Hennepin School District and were preparing to celebrate their seventh wedding anniversary that August.