Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis

Man is charged in Alton killing

BY TERRY HILLIG thillig@post-dispatch.com

 

Perry L. Henderson's photo on file with the Illinois sex offender registry

ALTON • A registered sex offender who has been in prison at least six times was charged Tuesday with killing a 73-year-old woman who was found dead in her bed on Friday.

Authorities say Perry L. Henderson, 50, attacked Sandra Wood, who lived in the 1700 block of Central Avenue. He has been charged with first-degree murder, aggravated criminal sexual assault, home invasion, burglary and robbery. He is being held without bail.

Thomas Gibbons, in his second day as Madison County state's attorney, said Tuesday that prosecutors will consider seeking a death sentence. He called the slaying "an especially brutal crime against a beloved member of this community."

Wood was a longtime Democratic precinct committeewoman and environmental activist who was retired from the St. Louis Public Schools.

She was strangled, according to the charges against Henderson.

Man arrested in killing of Alton woman

By Kavita Kumar • kkumar@post-dispatch.com

Sandra Wood of Alton. (Family photo)

BY ROBERT KELLY • rkelly@post-dispatch.com > 314-340-8345 | Posted: Monday, December 6, 2010 12:10 am

ALTON • A man from Alton was arrested Sunday in the killing of a woman found dead in her bed at her home in Alton on Friday.

The man, 50, who was not identified pending application for warrants, was arrested about 10:35 a.m. Sunday at an undisclosed location away from his home, said Lt. Scott Golike of Alton police.

He said police would seek a first-degree murder charge against the man in the death of Sandra Wood, 73, who was killed at her house in the 1700 block of Central Avenue.

Golike said police did not expect to file formal charges until Tuesday. Golike declined to discuss the evidence against the suspect or to say whether the suspect had known Wood.

Even so, Golike said, "I feel we have a strong case."

He credited good detective work by the St. Louis Area Major Case Squad and information provided by area residents with leading to the arrest.

Golike said he believed the man acted alone.

Major Case Squad responds to Alton homicide, continues East St. Louis case

News-Democrat

The Major Case Squad was activated Friday night, for the second time in a week, for a homicide in Alton.

The Alton Police Department responded about 4 p.m. Friday after receiving a call about a death in the 1700 block of Central Avenue, according to Alton Police Sgt. Michael Gordon.

Police did not release more information about the incident.

The Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis was recruiting investigators for this case about 9 p.m.

On Friday, squad members were working for the fourth day to solve the murder of 81-year-old Herma J. Carr. Relatives found Carr strangled after 10 p.m. Monday in her home at 629 N. 71st St. in East St. Louis. No one has been arrested in the case.

The Major Case Squad typically concentrate their efforts on a particular case for five days. The squad may decide by the end of Saturday whether to extend its involvement or disband in the East St. Louis case.

Anyone with information on either murder is asked to call the respective agency. The numbers are 346-3394 for the Major Case Squad, 482-6700 for the East St. Louis Police Department and 463-3505 for the Alton Police Department.

CrimeStoppers, an anonymous tip line that pays up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest, is available at 1-866-317-TIPS.

Read more: http://www.bnd.com/2010/12/03/1500632/major-case-squad-responds-to-alton.html#ixzz17A28UWDC