By Mark McConville
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EERIE IMAGES have revealed the abandoned remains of the aptly named Corpsewood Manor where a ‘devil worshipping’ couple were murdered, sparking a nationwide manhunt.
The haunting pictures show what’s left of the house with a redbrick archway and crumbling walls rising from the overgrown grounds.
Other historical photographs show Corpsewood Manor before it was destroyed by a fire and what it looked like at the time of the murders, as well as crime scene photos.
The urban exploration shots were taken at Corpsewood Manor in Georgia by a photographer known as Abandoned Southeast.
“Dr. Charles Scudder and Joseph Odom purchased a 40-acre plot of land in the hills of Chattooga County, Georgia,” he said.
“When they arrived, Dr. Scudder and Joseph Odom saw the bare, hauntingly beautiful trees around them and named their new home: Corpsewood Manor. Accompanied by their two English mastiffs, the couple lived in the camper while they built their dream home using only hand tools.
“Local hunters would often come along and ask for permission to use their land. That is how Dr. Scudder and Joseph Odom met Avery Brock. Brock was a regular hunter and had been allowed to hunt on their land numerous times. The lifestyle the couple enjoyed led Avery Brock to speculate Dr. Scudder and Joseph Odom were millionaires, when actually they had spent most of their savings on building their secluded homestead.
“Avery Brock told his friend, 30-year-old Tony West, a story about “queer devil-worshipers” who, he believed, were hiding a fortune in their home. The pair planned to rob the couple and put their plan into motion on the night of December 12, 1982. Brock and West picked up West’s nephew, Joey Wells and his friend Teresa Hudgins and headed to Corpsewood Manor. When they arrived at the home, Scudder took them into the Pink Room where they partied and drank homemade wine.
“After several hours of partying, Brock stepped out to his car and retrieved a .22 caliber rifle. He walked back to the house and shot Odom four times. Brock shot the two mastiffs next, which were still laying next to the stove. They tied up Dr. Scudder and demanded money. Wells and Hudgins attempted to flee, but after the car would not start, they were forced to return to the house. Brock and West ransacked the house, but were unable to find anything worth any value. West shot Dr. Scudder in the head at point blank range and the group fled the scene. The duo attempted to steal Dr. Scudder’s harp, but it would not fit in the vehicle.”
The murderous duo’s reign of terror didn’t end there as they killed again in their rush to escape as they tried to obtain a vehicle.
“Brock and West stole Scudder’s black Jeep and fled westward. They stopped at an I-20 rest stop outside of Vicksburg, Mississippi where they stole a car from Navy Lieutenant Kirby Phelps and murdered him during the process.
“On December 16, a neighbour discovered bullet holes in the door of Corpsewood Manor and called the sheriff. On that same day, Teresa Hudgins came forward to the police. According to the sheriff, she was held captive by Joey Wells at his mother’s house before escaping. A nationwide manhunt quickly ensued. Teresa Hudgins and Joey Wells cooperated with the police and were not charged with any crime.
“Avery Brock returned to Georgia and turned himself in on December 20, 1982. West did the same in Chattanooga, Tennessee on Christmas Eve. Both of the men were sentenced to life in prison. Avery Brock is currently serving his sentence in Georgia State Prison. Tony West is currently serving out his life sentence at Augusta State Medical Prison. They have both been denied parole multiple times.”
As Abandoned Southeast explained, the eerie feeling around this property doesn’t end with the murders.
“While investigating the murders, the police found two human skulls, three vials allegedly filled with LSD, a small occult library, numerous occult tools, a large general academic and literature library, and homosexual pornography,” he said.
“The sheriff’s office in Chattooga County labelled Dr. Scudder and Odom as “devil worshippers.” Also, found inside the house was a painting by Dr. Scudder that was completed months earlier depicting him bound in a chair with five gunshot wounds to his head.
“The sheriff had previously tried to bring charges against Dr. Scudder and Odom for their odd behaviour, but was unable to do so because of freedom of religion. A neighbour told reporters that Dr. Charles Scudder had joined the Church of Satan, but wasn’t an active participant. He said that Charles told him he joined the church to see what it was all about and that he was an atheist.
“Dr. Scudder’s neighbour, like many others in Chattooga County, were not aware that the Church of Satan is in fact atheistic. Friends of Dr. Scudder believe that him being openly gay in a time period where discrimination was common would have made the Church of Satan’s policy of anything goes between consenting adults very attractive.”
For more information see www.abandonedsoutheast.com
