Stabbing Suspect In Custody, Charged With Attempted Murder

STONINGTON, CT — Police have Carlton T. Henderson Jr., in custody. He's being charged with attempted murder in connection with a stabbing Saturday morning in Pawcatuck.

Just before 6 p.m. Thursday night, Henderson, 43, was taken into custody without incident at Hillside Apartments in Norwich during a joint operation with Norwich and Stonington police. Police initially named another apartment complex right next door, but corrected that Friday morning.

Henderson is charged with criminal attempt to commit murder, assault in the first degree, risk of injury to a minor and criminal attempt to commit assault on a police officer.

There is no mugshot of Henderson yet. In fact, the entire booking process is still under way at police headquarters on South Broad Street.

But Stonington Police Capt. Todd Olson told Patch that he wanted the community to know as soon as possible that Henderson was off the streets. He said no booking photo "...tonight. Still processing him. Early in the processing but I wanted all to sleep better tonight knowing that he was in custody."

Olson said he went to the home of the woman who called 911 to report the horrific knife attack.

He said he wanted "to notify her myself and give her a hug," adding, "All will sleep better tonight."

Stonington Police detectives were assisted in the investigation by Connecticut State Police, Connecticut State’s Attorneys Office, Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, the FBI, Groton Town Police, Groton City Police, Norwich Police Department, the New York Police Department, Mashantucket Tribal Police Department and Amtrak Police. Olson said he was grateful to all the agencies involved.

Henderson is currently being held at the Stonington Police Department on a $250,000 court-set bond.

Five Days On The Run

Five days have passed since the brutal stabbing of a Pawcatuck woman, a mother of two sons, 10 and 22. Patch does not name the victims of domestic violence until family give permission or authorities officially identify them.

After Patch first reported that Henderson was the suspect, by Sunday night, Olson confirmed that there was a warrant for Henderson's arrest on "domestic related charges."

And the victim's family and friends, as well as many of Henderson's family and friends, wanted him caught and were angry he was being harbored by someone. Days passed and people were on edge. Then Tuesday, a Groton manhunt that shuttered schools and had residents nervous, all for a person believed to be Henderson, but turned out to be the wrong man.

Olson told Patch each day of the search that myriad officers and agencies were working around the clock.

Henderson has a criminal history that included a prison bid for a home invasion. His sister was among those that first demanded he be caught, or turn himself in.

Neighbors Reported A Shocking Crime Scene

Hours after Patch first reported on the early morning attack on Mechanic Street, Olson said in a press release that police got a 911 call about a domestic incident at 8:15 a.m.

When police got there, they found a woman suffering from critical stab wounds. It was reported that suspect Henderson had already taken off. The woman was immediately treated by first responders and then was transported to the Westerly Hospital with life-threatening injuries but was then flown via Life Star to a hospital with a trauma unit. Her condition Sunday was not known. Olson said she was still at Yale New Haven Hospital.

On Saturday morning, neighbors reported seeing a taped-off bloody crime scene at 77 Mechanic St., where Henderson and the woman lived, according to police. Police and forensic teams were still at the house Saturday night.

Meanwhile, family and friends stay close to the woman Henderson is accused of stabbing. A spokesman for Yale New Haven Hospital spoke to Patch and was going to respond with her condition but by end of day Thursday, had not phoned back.

A GoFundMe was created for her medical bills and for her sons. More than $5,000 has been raised.

GoFundMe is a Patch partner.