Stonington Stabbing Victim Brandy Irvin, 41, Has Died

NEW HAVEN, CT — Brandia 'Brandy' Irvin, the mother of two sons who was brutally stabbed on the morning of Saturday Nov. 30 in her Pawcatuck home, allegedly by longtime boyfriend Carlton T. Henderson Jr., has died.

Stonington Police Capt. Todd Olson said that Irvin, 41, passed away Friday afternoon at Yale-New Haven Hospital.

Friends and family began sharing the news late terrible and heartbreaking Friday afternoon.

"It is with the heaviest of hearts to have to repeat this but our beautiful friend has passed on. I want to thank everyone who prayed for her recovery. I now ask that you pray for her sons, her mother and her brothers...pray for their peace and strength," wrote Amy Rosado on Facebook.

Irvin was mother to son Javon, 12, a student at Stonington Middle School, and adult son Dante Irvin, 22.

The Horrific Crime

As Patch first reported, police got a 911 call about a domestic incident at 77 Mechanic St., at 8:15 a.m.

When police got there, they found Irvin suffering from critical stab wounds. Suspect Henderson had already taken off. Irvin 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 Yale New Haven Hospital where she had been for six days.

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

The Hunt For Henderson

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.

The manhunt for Henderson, 44, which included local, state and federal law enforcement ended Thursday night when he was captured. Henderson had been on the run since the attack.

Just before 6 p.m. Thursday night, Henderson, 44, 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 was initally 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. Now, Olson says the State’s Attorney’s Office will be reviewing the charges in this case.

Carlton T. Henderson Jr. / SPD

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.

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.

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

GoFundMe is a Patch partner.