Evelyn Henderson: Pennsylvania woman convicted of murdering husband Carmen Henderson by setting him on fire
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.
DAUPHIN COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA: A 68-year-old woman has been convicted of murdering her 84-year-old husband by igniting him, amid marital turmoil exacerbated by their struggling business.
Evelyn Henderson was found guilty by a jury this week of second-degree murder and aggravated arson in connection with the death of her husband, Carmen Henderson, according to a statement released by the Dauphin County District Attorney's Office.
Evelyn Henderson called 911 to report her husband's self-inflicted death
Evelyn Henderson is slated to receive her sentence on May 14. On June 16, 2022, at approximately 5:23 a.m., she contacted 911, claiming her husband had committed suicide by self-immolation.
However, police and fire officials discovered that the victim was seated on a chair in the backyard when his wife "snuck up behind him and held an open flame to the back of the chair until it caught fire," according to the district attorney's office.
Carmen Henderson allegedly tried to remove his clothing as quickly as possible after the flames engulfed him. Unfortunately, he ultimately succumbed to thermal burns inflicted by the fire.
Evelyn Henderson "stood and watched as her husband burned and called her name for help," according to the prosecution, but she avoided dialing 911 for hours. It is reported that she used that time to formulate a denial statement, True Crime Daily reported.
Carmen Henderson was chief deputy sheriff in Dauphin County
On June 17, 2022, Evelyn Henderson was initially charged with criminal homicide and taken into the Dauphin County Jail.
The district attorney's office asserts that while the motive remains unclear, investigators uncovered marital issues following the demise of their limousine business in 2020.
Although Evelyn Henderson was purportedly in charge of the company's finances, the majority of the funds were allegedly spent on timeshares and spa treatments.
Carmen Henderson and his spouse, according to the prosecution, "had been arguing about the loss of the business in the hours leading up to the murder."
The victim was a police officer for the Susquehanna Township Police Department in the past, and he later held the position of chief deputy sheriff in Dauphin County, according to the district attorney's office.
