Wife Convicted of Murder for Setting Fire to Former Deputy Sheriff Husband and Delaying 911 Call as He Burned

In June 2022, a shocking murder rocked the quiet community of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. 

Evelyn Zigerelli-Henderson, a local political figure, found herself at the center of a horrific crime – the calculated killing of her husband, Carmen Henderson, a former county deputy sheriff. 

What began as a desperate attempt to manipulate a tragic event into a suicide quickly changed, exposing a web of financial strain and a chilling motive.

On the morning of June 16th, 2022, Zigerelli-Henderson placed a frantic 911 call, claiming her husband had died by suicide after setting himself on fire on their back patio.

However, first responders arriving at the scene found a grim reality. 

The victim, identified as Carmen Henderson, lay deceased on the patio, nude and with signs of significant burns. 

Upon closer inspection, fly larvae were discovered in his mouth and nostrils, a critical detail suggesting that the time of death occurred well before the reported incident.

From the outset, Zigerelli-Henderson's account displayed inconsistencies that raised immediate suspicion. 

Her initial narrative claimed a heated argument followed by a self-inflicted attack by her husband. 

However, upon further questioning, she shifted her story, introducing the possibility of an accidental fire caused by smoking a cigar. 

Fire investigators swiftly deemed this explanation improbable, adding another layer of doubt.

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As authorities delved deeper, Zigerelli-Henderson's fabricated story began to crumble. 

Her story morphed yet again, placing Carmen Henderson in a burning chair while she inexplicably chose not to call for help. 

This blatant disregard for her husband's well-being, coupled with her evolving explanations, solidified the investigators' concerns.

Financial motives often lie at the heart of complex criminal cases, and this instance proved no different.

The investigation revealed the Zigerelli-Hendersons were in significant debt. 

Zigerelli-Henderson readily admitted her role in their financial woes, acknowledging extravagant spending on vacations, spa treatments, and luxury goods. 

Additionally, the couple's limousine service, Henderson Limousine Service, had shuttered due to her mismanagement.

The financial strain had escalated to a critical point. 

They faced a looming foreclosure due to a hefty second mortgage and unpaid taxes. 

Zigerelli-Henderson expressed fear of homelessness and the possibility of Carmen living with his children from a previous marriage, which would leave her without any place to stay.

The evidence against Zigerelli-Henderson painted a clear picture. 

Her fabricated stories, coupled with the financial desperation, laid bare the truth – a calculated murder designed to appear as a suicide. 

The jury, after careful deliberation, found her guilty of second-degree murder, aggravated arson, and arson. 

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