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| Laurie Henderson July 2016; HANCOCK, Md. remains found | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jul 21 2017, 07:34 AM (32 Views) | |
| Begood | Jul 21 2017, 07:34 AM Post #1 |
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Missing woman's remains found buried in Maryland field by Richard Reeve/ABC7Thursday, July 20th 2017 Laurie Hendershot (Family Photo) JerryPetry.pngMissingWoman2.pngMissingWoman.png VIEW PHOTO GALLERY 4 photos AA HANCOCK, Md. (ABC7) — Sixty-eight-year-old Jerry Petry walked out of jail Thursday, a free man--- at least for now. His release comes just days after investigators unearthed human remains at his remote property off National Pike, just west of Hancock, Maryland. Those remains, authorities say, have identifying characteristics consistent with 54-year-old Laurie Henderson, a Hancock woman who's been missing since July 2016. "He was released from jail today, he was released from prison on Monday," says Washington County Deputy State's Attorney Joseph Michael. "This is a temporary reprieve." That temporary reprieve is part of an unusual plea deal with prosecutors. The agreement allows Petry's 15-year prison term for illegal firearms possession to be temporarily vacated. He's free on his own recognizance until a sentencing date in September. The deal came with the caveat that Petry would lead police to the remains--- and that there were no indications of homicide or foul play. The Herald-Mail newspaper reports the remains were found Wednesday, in a five-and-a-half foot deep grave. "Am I ready to accuse him of burying her?" Michael asks. "I certainly think it's obvious, but we're in charge of prosecuting criminal offenses, and this is one that we gave him immunity for." Michael tells ABC7 News that X-rays done by a medical examiner show no indication of any trauma, such as broken bones. There's no official cause of death yet. Investigators were examining Hendershot's struggles with mental problems, alcohol, and physical issues like keeping her balance. Michael says Hendershot's cell phone records show she sent a text to Petry just days before she went missing. The message: "that she had fallen, and injured her head." "She indicated in that contact that she was injured severely and needed his help," Michael recalls. "That's the last message that we have... and the source of that message is Mr. Petry's phone." Michael says the couple had an 'interdependent relationship' where Hendershot would often stay at Petry's home. What's unclear is if the injury happened at Hendershot's residence, where some blood was found, or at Petry's. Prosecutors began taking a close look at Petry last September, when Hendershot family members disputed his claim he last saw her in June 2016. Witnesses and cell phone records put them together the following month, when the 54 year old went missing. Michael says his office has never accused Petry of 'any responsibility for her disappearance or death'--- but they believed he knew her whereabouts because 'he had misled us about her disappearance." Authorities say in September, a cadaver dog uncovered recently moved earth on Petry's property. Investigators found a cache of buried firearms, a violation of a court order banning Petry from possessing firearms after he was convicted in 1970 on rape and kidnapping charges. Before a sentencing hearing this past June, prosecutors tried numerous times to get the 68- year-old to cooperate in connection with the Hendershot case. He refused, until Tuesday, where he revealed a burial site to investigators. Michael believes Petry's time behind bars, the start of a 15-year sentence, convinced him to change his mind. "At his age and physical health, it's gonna be tantamount to a end of life decision," he says. Michael says the overriding reason for the deal was to give Hendershot's family a sense of closure. So does the discovery of the remains mean that Petry buried them? "He had the means, he has a backhoe on the property," Michael says. "There was disturbed earth, she's clearly buried. He would have the means and the opportunity." In September, Petry's 15-year firearms sentence is to be reimposed. He'll also faces charges of forgery and obstructing an investigation. Prosecutors say Petry is also to plead guilty to using Hendershot's money inappropriately, possibly after she passed away. "For this person, its more or less he's looking at a life sentence and he's getting 90 days off on the front end," Michael explains. Authorities still have to get toxicology reports and DNA samples to make a positive ID on the remains. Michael says if evidence of a homicide are uncovered, he may--- or may not, prosecute the charge. "A lot of answers we'll never have in this case," he says. "But the one we do have, is where this person, these remains came from. And if they turn out to be Laurie Hendershot, which is likely, we'll solve at least that mystery." This story has been updated, Friday, July 21, 2017 http://wjla.com/news/local/missing-womans-...-maryland-field |
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2:07 AM Jul 13