Jan 15, 2008 11:16 pm US/Eastern
Police Charge Man With Murder Of Stepha Henry
Stepha Henry's Body Has Not Been Found
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
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Kendrick Williams has been charged in the murder of Stepha Henry.
MIAMI DADE CORRECTIONS/CBS
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Stepha Henry vanished in May, 2007 during a visit to South Florida.
MIAMI DADE POLICE/CBS
Detectives arrested Kendrick Williams,32, in Brooklyn, New York and have charged him with the murder of Stepha Henry.
Henry, a grad student at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, was visiting South Florida, spending time with relatives and taking advantage of the activities surrounding Hip-Hop weekend in May of 2007, which is Memorial Day weekend.
At a news conference Tuesday afternoon Jim Loftus, Assistant Director of Investigative Services at the Miami Dade Police Department, explained that on Monday, May 28th, Henry went to a bar-b-que in Miramar at a friend's house where she met up with Williams. Loftus said the two made plans to go to Peppers Café Nightclub, 3828 N. University Drive, in Sunrise the following night. During their night out, she was seen inside the club, but she dropped out of sight afterward.
Police said Williams and Henry arrived at the nightclub in a dark colored Acura Integra. Initially, Williams told investigators he had left the club early and that Henry had decided to stay there and she was never seen again.
Investigators say they have enough evidence to try Williams, even though Henry's body was never found. Eight months later, her mother Sylvia is still mourning.
"It's very, very, very hard," I've been through a lot of difficult times with my husband, my children, my daughter, my family, all my friends and family and neighbors," said Sylvia Henry.Since that time, investigators located and impounded the Acura Integra driven by Williams on the night of Henry's disappearance.
Forensic analysis of the vehicle revealed substantial evidence, including blood, which detectives were able to conclusively link to Henry, according to Miami-Dade Police. No other details of that evidence have been released. Police have also not said where they believe Henry was killed.
Williams was tracked down living in a car at the Canarsie Pier in Brooklyn. He was arrested Tuesday morning by members of the New York Police Department and Miami-Dade detectives. Williams, who has been charged with second degree murder in Henry's death, is being questioned by detectives in New York.
"You know it's disappointing that somebody would do that to her," Henry's cousin, Ano Clarke told
CBS4's Ileana Varela. "She was a good girl and it's like a relief in my family cause everybody was stressed out."
Jeremy Travis, President of John Jay College of Criminal Justice, issued the following statement on news of Williams' arrest.
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We are deeply saddened by today's news. Stepha Henry was a beloved member of the John Jay Community.
At this hour, we extend our most sincere and profound sympathy to Mr. and Mrs. Henry, her sister Shola and their entire family. The seven months since her disappearance have been very painful for her family and friends. We hope that they continue to find the strength they need to get through these difficult times.
As a student, an alumna and a staff member, Stepha 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. We mourn the fact that she was unable to fulfill her dreams."
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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