Cody Judy

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Cody Robert Judy (born 1966) is an American who publicly accosted Howard W. Hunter, an official of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, on February 7, 1993.

[edit] Events of February 7, 1993

While preparing to speak at a "fireside" lecture being held at Brigham Young University's Marriott Center on February 7, 1993, then President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Hunter was confronted by Judy, who rushed onto the rostrum and threatened Hunter and the audience of 15,000–17,000. Judy carried a briefcase that he claimed contained a bomb, and held what appeared to be a detonator-like device. Judy demanded that Hunter read a three-page document that supposedly detailed God's plan for Judy to lead the church, which Hunter refused to do. After Judy had been peppermaced by a member of the audience and couldn't see, an elderly man who had encroached him after being told to stay back 3 times was pushed by Judy. Judy ordered everyone to leave the rostrum except for Hunter; however, Hunter's bodyguards refused to leave. The audience spontaneously sang "We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet". When Judy wasn't looking, the bodyguards rushed him and pushed him out in the audience. Judy was beaten and lay unconscious. Security personnel then introceded carrying his limp body out while the audience cheered. After Judy was taken away to the hospital, Hunter delivered his prepared remarks, a talk on facing adversity entitled, "An Anchor to the Souls of Men."^[1] The police later examined the briefcase and determined that it contained only books and papers but chose to blow it up in front of the KSL newscast. The detonator-looking device was a child's play telephone wrapped in electrical tape.

The fireside was being broadcast live, but was blacked-out as the disruption began. The entire fireside, including the blacked-out portion with Judy, was recorded by the Church Educational System, which holds a copyright on the material, and the incident has not been included in any re-broadcasts and recordings of the fireside released by the church. Portions of the blacked-out section were made available to the Utah County Attorney's office for purposes of prosecution, and later forwarded to the Utah Board of Pardons, but have not been made available to the public, nor was Judy ever given a copy as evidense.^[2]

[edit] Aftermath

Judy was sentenced to one to 15 years in prison for the act. He was initially housed at the Utah State Hospital's forensic unit in Provo, Utah, while cooperating with a 30 day mental health evaluation. psychiatric medication. ^[3] In March of 1993, 15 days after the 30 day mental health evaluation was completed, Judy escaped from the Utah State Hospital. After being unsuccessfully tracked for three days by S.W.A.T. Teams and K9 units, Judy turned himself in at the KSL News Station in Salt Lake City.^[4] He was paroled in November of 2000 after serving seven years.

During an interview on Salt Lake City's X96's Radio From Hell show, Judy claimed that he was not really lying, but simply referring to a Book of Mormon by its initials, BOM.

In 2002, Judy ran as a write-in candidate for an open Utah seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Judy received eight votes.^[5]

In 2004, Judy lost as a write-in candidate for the United States Senate against Senator Bob Bennett, receiving sixteen votes.^[6]

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

• "California Man Threatens President Hunter, Fireside Audience With Fake Bomb" by Gail Sinnott and Carri P. Jenkins, BYU Magazine, February 1993, pages 15-16
• Daily Universe covers fireside threat on Pres. Hunter, by Alicia Barney, BYU Daily Universe, 8 December 2005

[edit] External links

• "Codypendent" by Eric D. Snider, The Daily Herald (Provo), June 7, 2002
• BYU 100 Hour Board submission 11106 about Cody Judy, December 2004