The New London man, who police said bludgeoned his wife to death with a hammer and set fire to the home with his 13-month-old son still inside, faces up to 50 years in prison.

State prosecutors made public the plea offer to 25-year-old George Dodson for the first time on Wednesday during his brief appearance in New London Superior Court.

Dodson was an active-duty Navy sailor when he was charged with murder in the July 20, 2022, killing of 23-year-old Shelby Dodson at the couple’s home at 50 Sherman St.

The motive for the killing was jealousy, police said. Dodson told police that he and his wife agreed to an open relationship but that she had found another man she loved more.

“I could not stand the thought of it so I killed her,” Dodson confessed to police, according to the arrest warrant affidavit in the case.

New London Superior Court Judge John Newson on Wednesday gave Dodson more time to speak with his lawyer and consider the plea offer. Dodson is due back in court on Jan. 23, 2025. He could reject the offer and opt to take his case to trial but would likely face more prison time if convicted.

Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Stephen Carney said the plea offer involves Dodson pleading guilty to the charges of murder, arson and risk of injury to a minor. In exchange, Dodson would serve a maximum of 50 years as determined by the judge.

Dodson, who is represented by attorney Michael Miller, would have the right to argue for less time at sentencing. He could be sentenced to as little as 25 years, which is the minimum mandatory sentence for murder.

But Judge Newson warned Dodson that “this is a case where we’re not going to be anywhere near the minimum mandatory.”

At the time of his arrest, Dodson was assigned to the USS Newport News, homeported at the Naval Submarine Base in Groton. Dodson is originally from Knoxville, Tenn., and had been with the Navy for five years. He had been living in New London for two years following a move from Norfolk, Va.

On the evening of July 20, 2022, firefighters were called out to Dodson’s home for reports of heavy smoke billowing from the windows on both sides of the two-story home. Firefighters discovered Shelby Dodson’s body on the first floor of the home with obvious signs of trauma. The child — conscious but lethargic — was found in a crib on the second-floor bedroom.

Police caught up with Dodson in the backyard where he had self-inflicted cuts to his neck. When asked if there were more people inside the home, Dodson replied, “my wife, my kid, my dog,” the warrant for his arrest states.

After his arrest, Dodson was placed on a suicide watch and has since undergone mental health evaluations.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined Shelby Dodson died from blunt trauma to the head. She had also been cut with a knife but apparently was already dead by that time.

Shelby Dodson’s death was one of three homicides in New London in 2022 and one of two domestic-related killings. In January, police said 18-year-old Arisleidy Batista-Bido was shot and killed by her boyfriend before he set fire to the home they shared and then killed himself.

There were 19 family-violence homicide incidents statewide in 2022 that resulted in 29 deaths. The deaths were comprised of 21 homicide victims and eight people who committed suicide after killing the victim.

Dodson remains held on a $3 million bond.

g.smith@theday.com