Upper Lake man takes manslaughter plea deal in wife’s death
- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
LAKEPORT, Calif. – An Upper Lake man has accepted a plea agreement in the June death of his wife, which the prosecution and defense agreed was the result of a sudden quarrel.
Last Friday, William “Bill” Morton Henry, 64, pleaded to manslaughter in the death of his wife, 51-year-old Cindi Henry, according to defense attorney Andrea Sullivan and Deputy District Attorney Rachel Abelson.
“We came to a negotiated disposition with the District Attorney’s Office,” which was overseen by District Attorney-elect Susan Krones, Sullivan said.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said relatives found Cindi Henry dead in her Elliot Street home in Upper Lake on June 11.
Bill Henry was not at home at the time his wife’s body was discovered, but he was arrested on June 14 after he returned to the home, authorities said.
An autopsy found that Cindi Henry died of mechanical asphyxiation, the sheriff’s office said.
The District Attorney’s Office originally charged Bill Henry with first-degree murder, Abelson said.
During an August preliminary hearing in the case, the evidence showed that the couple had been drinking alcohol when an argument occurred in which Cindi Henry made some fairly insulting comments, according to Abelson.
“There was a history of her being verbally and emotionally abusive to Mr. Henry. It appears that he had enough and wanted her to stop,” with Bill Henry choking his wife to death, Abelson said.
While it may have been possible to get a first-degree degree murder conviction, Abelson said the District Attorney’s Office took into consideration issues with intoxication, heat of passions, Bill Henry’s lack of criminal history and his age in negotiating the disposition.
“He also took responsibility at a fairly early stage for a homicide case,” Abelson said.
The couple had been married for about 12 years, and it was a second marriage for both of them, Sullivan said. Bill Henry had worked for about 30 years in maintenance for the Upper Lake Elementary School.
Sullivan said Bill Henry never denied killing his wife. While he did leave after killing her, he wrote a note found in the room next to where her body was located that said he was sorry but that she wouldn’t stop.
“He did leave the area but he immediately came back within 48 hours,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan said that after his arrest and before he had an attorney, Bill Henry gave a two-hour-long statement to law enforcement in which he never denied that he was the cause of his wife’s death.
“He is very, very remorseful,” she said.
On Dec. 21, Bill Henry pleaded to the manslaughter charge as part of the agreement with the District Attorney’s Office, Abelson said.
Abelson said that the agreement calls for Henry not to get probation, and it will be up to the judge – after a recommendation from the Probation Department – how long his prison sentence will be.
If the judge accepts the agreement, Henry will receive a sentence of three, six or 11 years in prison, Abelson said.
Sullivan said the Probation Department will do a presentencing investigation and report that is supposed to weigh factors in the crime, get statements from the families and from Henry himself.
Abelson said Judge David Markham – who took the plea in the case – will sentence Henry on Jan. 22 in Department 3.
Henry will serve his sentence not in the county jail but in state prison, Sullivan said.
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