Post by Champs Elysees on Jan 16, 2008 7:45:31 GMT -5
Man arrested in Florida disappearance of New York woman
NEW YORK (AP) -- A man who was living in his car was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of killing a woman who disappeared last spring on a trip to Florida to celebrate her sister's birthday, police said Tuesday.
Kendrick Williams, 32, was expected to be charged with second-degree murder in the death of Stepha Henry, who was last seen alive just before Memorial Day last year, authorities said. No body has been found.
The arrest came after a team of detectives, including two from Florida, found Williams asleep in a car near a Brooklyn pier, police said. Authorities believe he had been living in the vehicle.
Police said they had forensic evidence, including blood of the woman found in the black sedan that Williams was driving the night the woman disappeared. No other details were released.
A handcuffed Williams put his head down and refused to speak while being led by officers out of a police station.
Henry, who would have turned 23 in September, and her 16-year-old sister, Shola Henry, flew to Florida to celebrate Shola's birthday. They stayed with relatives, who last saw Stepha Henry on May 29 getting into a black sedan driven by a man.
That night, Henry had talked to her mother by phone, telling her she was getting ready to go to a nightclub. She was seen in a promotional video taped at the club that night.
Miami-Dade County police said Williams was the driver of the black sedan. During the investigation, Williams told detectives that he had left the club early but that Henry decided to stay.
Detectives impounded the car, and analysis revealed evidence that linked Williams to Henry, police said.
There was no immediate indication when Williams would be transferred to Florida.
It was not immediately clear how Henry and Williams knew each other or where Williams had been living.
"This investigation is far from over," Miami-Dade police spokesman Alvaro Zabaleta said.
Henry's father, Steve Henry, reached by telephone Tuesday afternoon, said he didn't want to talk.
Jeremy Travis, president of John Jay College of Criminal Justice, where Henry graduated with honors, released a statement saying the school was "deeply saddened" by the development. Henry, who was planning to attend law school, also was employed by the college when she disappeared.
"We extend our most sincere and profound sympathy to Mr. and Mrs. Henry, her sister Shola and their entire family," the statement said. "We hope that they continue to find the strength they need to get through these difficult times."
Travis said Henry "embodied the values we hope to impart to all of our students: a thirst for knowledge, a commitment to excellence and a desire to ensure fairness in the pursuit of justice."
"She was full of hope and promise," he said. "We mourn the fact that she was unable to fulfill her dreams."
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
NEW YORK (AP) -- A man who was living in his car was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of killing a woman who disappeared last spring on a trip to Florida to celebrate her sister's birthday, police said Tuesday.
Kendrick Williams, 32, was expected to be charged with second-degree murder in the death of Stepha Henry, who was last seen alive just before Memorial Day last year, authorities said. No body has been found.
The arrest came after a team of detectives, including two from Florida, found Williams asleep in a car near a Brooklyn pier, police said. Authorities believe he had been living in the vehicle.
Police said they had forensic evidence, including blood of the woman found in the black sedan that Williams was driving the night the woman disappeared. No other details were released.
A handcuffed Williams put his head down and refused to speak while being led by officers out of a police station.
Henry, who would have turned 23 in September, and her 16-year-old sister, Shola Henry, flew to Florida to celebrate Shola's birthday. They stayed with relatives, who last saw Stepha Henry on May 29 getting into a black sedan driven by a man.
That night, Henry had talked to her mother by phone, telling her she was getting ready to go to a nightclub. She was seen in a promotional video taped at the club that night.
Miami-Dade County police said Williams was the driver of the black sedan. During the investigation, Williams told detectives that he had left the club early but that Henry decided to stay.
Detectives impounded the car, and analysis revealed evidence that linked Williams to Henry, police said.
There was no immediate indication when Williams would be transferred to Florida.
It was not immediately clear how Henry and Williams knew each other or where Williams had been living.
"This investigation is far from over," Miami-Dade police spokesman Alvaro Zabaleta said.
Henry's father, Steve Henry, reached by telephone Tuesday afternoon, said he didn't want to talk.
Jeremy Travis, president of John Jay College of Criminal Justice, where Henry graduated with honors, released a statement saying the school was "deeply saddened" by the development. Henry, who was planning to attend law school, also was employed by the college when she disappeared.
"We extend our most sincere and profound sympathy to Mr. and Mrs. Henry, her sister Shola and their entire family," the statement said. "We hope that they continue to find the strength they need to get through these difficult times."
Travis said Henry "embodied the values we hope to impart to all of our students: a thirst for knowledge, a commitment to excellence and a desire to ensure fairness in the pursuit of justice."
"She was full of hope and promise," he said. "We mourn the fact that she was unable to fulfill her dreams."
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
