GUILTY MI - Amy Henslee, 30, Hartford Township, 24 Jan 2011 - #4

[jrb0124]

I believe it happened as Junior said it happened. I'm not sure I believe the forensics in this case, or rather the investigators. JMO!

JB's attorney never disputed the forensics though. He did claim that the forensics could support several different people positioning scenarios, which while possible by the laws of physics were impractical considering the sequence of events according to JB. Its sort of like eliciting the answer: yes, its possible you can flip a penny 20 times and get 20 heads in a row. That was the nature of his questions to the ME and forensics experts.

To me, the 2 shots to each is huge. If there were one shot to AH and one shot to TH which was not in the back of the head...JB's story would hold more weight. As the pros pointed out, how could a struggle with a shotgun at close range cause a wound to the back of the head?

 

[westsidefox64]

I am glad justice is served in this case, I think he killed them both on purpose myself but he wont get out of Prison so im ok with it.

Palomine Id like to thank you for all the work you put into keeping us updated!

 

[jrb0124]

family/spectator reaction to verdicts

Beebe led out of courtroom following verdicts

Beebe asked before elevator doors close, "Did you kill those two women?", he shouted "No!".

James Henslee talks about the stress of the trial and his relief at the verdicts.

Jamie Jones, who's private search group/dogs located the crime scene - he's become personally close to the Henslees - also expresses relief

 

[jrb0124]

TH's sister speaks about redemption for Tonya:

Trisha Kraiger couldn't help but feel that her sister, Tonya Howarth, was being put on trial just as much as her accused killer.
.
.
the jury's verdict affirmed her belief all along that Beebe wasn't telling the truth.
.
.
“We're glad that she's been redeemed.”​

I recall defense attorney Hunt refer to TH several times as "a monster", which must have been tough for TH's family to sit through especially.

[LINK]

 

[Rhyme & Reason]

JB's attorney never disputed the forensics though. He did claim that the forensics could support several different people positioning scenarios, which while possible by the laws of physics were impractical considering the sequence of events according to JB. Its sort of like eliciting the answer: yes, its possible you can flip a penny 20 times and get 20 heads in a row. That was the nature of his questions to the ME and forensics experts.

To me, the 2 shots to each is huge. If there were one shot to AH and one shot to TH which was not in the back of the head...JB's story would hold more weight. As the pros pointed out, how could a struggle with a shotgun at close range cause a wound to the back of the head?

The only part of his story I think he lied about was that he shot Tonya out of self defense. I think he shot her out of anger for killing Amy.

 

[Rhyme & Reason]

I am glad justice is served in this case, I think he killed them both on purpose myself but he wont get out of Prison so im ok with it.

Palomine Id like to thank you for all the work you put into keeping us updated!

Yes, Palomine did a great job with the updates. Thank you Palomine!

 

[jrb0124]

Beebe glares towards the gallery as he is led from the courtroom following the verdicts.

 

[Rhyme & Reason]

TH's sister speaks about redemption for Tonya:

Trisha Kraiger couldn't help but feel that her sister, Tonya Howarth, was being put on trial just as much as her accused killer.
.
.
the jury's verdict affirmed her belief all along that Beebe wasn't telling the truth.
.
.
“We're glad that she's been redeemed.”​

I recall defense attorney Hunt refer to TH several times as "a monster", which must have been tough for TH's family to sit through especially.

[LINK]

Thank you too jrb0124, for the updates. I wasn't able to watch the live feed every day, so the updates were much appreciated!

 

[jrb0124]

The only part of his story I think he lied about was that he shot Tonya out of self defense. I think he shot her out of anger for killing Amy.

IMO, some of the jurors were convinced JB intentionally shot and killed AH and some of them believed JB's story that TH shot AH. I think they all agreed that JB shooting TH to kill was premeditated - angry or not.

The question to the judge about "accessory to murder" implies some of the jurors were unwilling to acquit JB re: AH but also unwilling to render guilty on any of the other option.

I think other jurors were convinced of murder 1 re: AH, which is why the compromise was murder 2...something neither side really argued for or supported during the trial re: AH.

 

[OldSteve]

Wonder what Pat Brown thinks of the evidence & verdict?

My thought exactly!- I did not agree with her blog and glad the verdict confirms what I and I believe you feel:

http://patbrownprofiling.blogspot.com/2011/03/criminal-profiling-topic-of-day-why-i.html

 

[oceanblueeyes]

My thought exactly!- I did not agree with her blog and glad the verdict confirms what I and I believe you feel:

http://patbrownprofiling.blogspot.com/2011/03/criminal-profiling-topic-of-day-why-i.html

Pat and I battled on that case for months.

 

[oceanblueeyes]

IMO, some of the jurors were convinced JB intentionally shot and killed AH and some of them believed JB's story that TH shot AH. I think they all agreed that JB shooting TH to kill was premeditated - angry or not.

The question to the judge about "accessory to murder" implies some of the jurors were unwilling to acquit JB re: AH but also unwilling to render guilty on any of the other option.

I think other jurors were convinced of murder 1 re: AH, which is why the compromise was murder 2...something neither side really argued for or supported during the trial re: AH.

I think some believed he had intentions of killing Amy when he picked her up and some may have believed something happened between the time he picked her up and when he killed her. IMO, those thought it was not premeditated but more like something spurred his anger. That would explain the bruises. He beat her up because he was angry about something and killed her because of it.

So they compromised on the verdict and went with second degree instead.

In TH case.........there was nothing else pointing to anything else but he premeditated her murder and carried it out.

IMO

 

[~n/t~]

My thought exactly!- I did not agree with her blog and glad the verdict confirms what I and I believe you feel:

http://patbrownprofiling.blogspot.com/2011/03/criminal-profiling-topic-of-day-why-i.html

Actually, I always felt they were having an affair. The why Amy bothered me a lot and wanted to know why she was involved. The calls from JH numerous times a day and then the rushing home immediately after she didn't answer the first call made me think he knew something was going on.

One thing I never doubted though was he murdered both. One for perhaps trying to break up an affair which I believe was the reason he beat her and the other was at the wrong place at the wrong time.

:twocents:

 

[ohiogirl]

Thanks for all of the posters' input to this thread. I couldn't see live stream, so you were great with all the updates. Since I don't know any of those involved, I don't have a good handle on what was the back story here. I do think that JB was not telling the complete truth. That has to make one wonder if anything he said was the truth.
Thanks to the jury. It is always hard to make these decisions. jmo

 

[Rhyme & Reason]

I'm happy to see a jury work as juries are meant to work.

 

[Carolina Girl]

he admitted killing Tonya so how could you disagree

That is the point. He admitted killing Tonya. If you admit one, it may as well be both. The fact that he admitted Tonya and not Amy makes it seem like he is telling the truth to me. After it was done, he had to try to get rid of the evidence. He panicked.
I respect everyone else's opinion. This just happens to be mine.

 

[chasing.halos]

Justice for Amy Sue has been served today. Verdicts such as this and Warren Jeffs redeem the system for me in some small way. After Caylee, it sure has been hard trusting the system. IMHO ..... :rose:

 

[SurfieTX]

Amen.

:rose: for Amy and Tanya

 

[jrb0124]

That is the point. He admitted killing Tonya. If you admit one, it may as well be both. The fact that he admitted Tonya and not Amy makes it seem like he is telling the truth to me. After it was done, he had to try to get rid of the evidence. He panicked.
I respect everyone else's opinion. This just happens to be mine.

BBM. That is a possible take on it, and I respect your opinion as well.

Now, bear with me a moment....

Hypothetical:

*two dead bodies with shotgun wounds
*1 live person unharmed
*1 shotgun

Given the above circumstances in general (not just this case), what is the most favorable scenario you can think up for the live unharmed person?

The live person cannot say they didn't shoot anyone - that's impossible, so even in the most favorable scenario the live person must admit to shooting one person.

Next, why did they shoot/kill that person? The most favorable reason to shoot/kill someone is self-defense, right?

Next, is there a way to make the person you shot seem even more deserving of it in addition to self-defense? Yes - that that person already shot the other.

JB's version of events leading up to and including the death of TH, which he had 4 days to cook up, paint him in the most favorable light possible given the circumstances: 2 dead bodies, 1 live person, 1 shotgun.

Its not that his story is the best fit for the scenario (as the defense holds) - and therefore must be true...its simply the one that paints him in the most favorable light, and it wasn't too hard for JB to put all of that together IMO.

 

[oceanblueeyes]

That is the point. He admitted killing Tonya. If you admit one, it may as well be both. The fact that he admitted Tonya and not Amy makes it seem like he is telling the truth to me. After it was done, he had to try to get rid of the evidence. He panicked.
I respect everyone else's opinion. This just happens to be mine.

Actually to me Carolina he tried to set up a defense where he wouldn't be blamed at all.

Pretending Tonya murdered Amy. A lie imo.
He shot Tonya in self defense. Another lie, imo.

That is why I never believed Jr.'s story. He was trying to make himself blameless.

Yet both women were shot twice with his shotgun.

But I respect your opinion and know you think otherwise.

I am just glad he is going to prison forever.

IMO