Deputies from the Henderson County, Texas, Sheriff’s Office have arrested a woman and charged her with deliberately shooting her two young daughters.
Sarah Nicole Henderson of Mabank, Texas, is being held at Henderson County Jail pending arraignment on Friday, Oct. 3.
The 29-year-old mother of three reportedly admitted to police that she fatally shot her daughters, KayLee Danielle, 7, and Kenlie, 5. Investigators have not yet revealed a motive.
Henderson’s third child does not live with her and was not involved in the shooting.
The terrible incident in this small town an hour east of Dallas started late on the night of Wednesday, Oct. 1.
An Emergency Medical Service dispatcher called the Sheriff’s Office asking the sheriffs to investigate a report of a “possible suicidal woman” at a residence outside of Payne Springs in Henderson County at 11:29 p.m.
EMS called back at 11:36 saying the call had been canceled. Nonetheless, deputies were dispatched to the residence, arriving at 11:45 p.m. A man and a woman met the deputies at the door and said there were no problems and no one was in danger.
Just a few hours later, however, at 2:24 a.m., a man called 911 reporting that a woman had shot her children at that same address.
Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse said Sarah Henderson was arrested and charged with capital murder in the shooting deaths of two of her children.
Hillhouse said the children were found dead at the scene. Their bodies were taken to American Forensics in Dallas for examination.
The Texas Rangers, Child Protective Services, and the Henderson County District Attorney’s Office are assisting with the investigation.
Mabank residents were reportedly in shock over the brutal crime.
Jaylyne Palmer, who lives across the street from the Henderson family, said, “Those little girls were so adorable. They would come over here on their little bicycles,” and ride around the Palmer’s circular driveway.
Palmer said she had often heard Henderson yelling loudly at the girls, but never saw any violence.
Palmer said the double killing was “not easy to think about. (They’re) innocent little girls. It breaks out hearts.”
“There’s no reason for this, none at all,” said Bridget Golds, another Mabank resident. “How could someone do this to them?”
