Cathy Lynn Henderson Maria Lecce Pd. 3

Background

Education up to the 12 grade, didn't attend college

No criminal record Born December 27, 1956 in Austin,

Texas Full time babysitter

Crime

Was 37 at the time crime was committed Convicted of the abduction and murder of

three month old Brandon Baugh. Began babysitting Baugh and his two year old

sister, Megan, three months prior to the crime

Henderson told police that Brandon died after she dropped him accidentally on his head.

Panicked and buried the boy and fled the Missouri where she was arrested.

Evidence

Using a map drawn by Henderson, authorities found Brandon’s body in a cardboard box in a shallow grave outside of Temple, TX

February 8, 1994. Autopsy determined Brandon died of

fractured skull.

Quote

“I think I was in shock, disbelief. I just didn’t know what I was doing. That baby was dead. I didn’t want to deal with that. There was too much sorrow. It hurt, it hurt,” she said, tearing up. “When I look back at it, it does kind of look like I was guilty, doesn’t it?”

Sentence

At first, sentenced by death penalty After months on death row, was given

a retrial and given a life sentence in prison instead

Reason being was due to the recent scientific evidence about the causes of head trauma similar to the ones Brandon suffered

Theory