ATHENS (WBAP/KLIF) – East Texas authorities say the that the East Texas mother who shot and killed her two young daughters planned the shooting weeks in advance.
29-year-old Sarah Nicole Henderson of Mabank was arraigned Friday before Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Precinct Randy Daniel, who set bail at $2 million on one count of capital murder. Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse said another capital murder charge is pending. During an interview with Investigators, Sarah Henderson confessed to shooting her children.
“Over the last 24 hours, the investigation shows that she planned these murders for at least the last two weeks,” Hillhouse said. “It appears she also intended to kill her husband, but the entire crime did not go as planned.”
The Sheriff released three 911 calls regarding the case. One from Emergency Management Services from the husband requesting assistance and a second call canceling that request. The third call is from the husband reporting the murders.
The female victims, both Sarah Henderson’s daughters age seven and five, were taken to American Forensics for forensic examination.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, at 11:29 p.m. Wednesday, local EMS personnel contacted the Sheriff’s Office asking for assistance regarding a female at a residence outside of Payne Springs, 60 miles east of Dallas. Although the caller made a second call to EMS requesting the cancellation of the service Sheriff Deputies went to the residence, arriving at 11:45 p.m. Hillhouse said a male and female at the residence told the Deputies they were fine and no one needed assistance. Almost three hours later, at 2:24 a.m. Thursday, the same man called 911 to report his wife had shot her children at the residence.
Hillhouse said the children were deceased at the scene. The Texas Rangers, Child Protective Services and the Henderson County District Attorney’s Office are assisting with the investigation.
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