HENNEPIN — Richard A. Henderson, a suspect in the Diamond Bradley killing, will next appear in court on March 1 after Putnam County State’s Attorney Christina Judd-Mennie requested to reschedule the hearing originally set for Feb. 15.
Henderson, 26, of Standard faces the initial charges of concealment of a homicide death, but additional charges are expected. Mennie requested the change because more time was needed to review the case.
A charge of concealment of a homicide death carries a possible penalty of probation up to five years of incarceration and is a Class 3 felony.
Bradley, 16, of Spring Valley was last was seen by her family on the evening of Jan. 23, and she was reported missing the following morning. Her body was found Jan. 27 alongside 850th North Road in Putnam County.
Putnam County Sheriff Kevin Doyle reported Bradley died of multiple stab wounds and said investigators think Henderson picked the girl up near her home between 6:30 and 7:30 a.m. Jan. 24, drove to the spot where her body was found, and killed her after an altercation.
Several tips, interviews, cellphone pings and other technological evidence led investigators to Henderson. After law enforcement officials visited Henderson at his home on Feb. 5, he willingly accompanied them for a further interview after which he was charged.
Doyle said Henderson and Bradley met through an unspecified website, though the exact nature of their relationship is still being investigated. Investigators are also waiting for the results of various lab reports and testing.
Henderson is being held in the LaSalle County Jail on a $1 million bond. He is being represented by public defender Roger Bolin.
Jason Judd, owner of Grandma Rosie’s, had previously been raising funds for a reward for any tip leading to an arrest and conviction in the case. Since the arrest, made through the efforts of law enforcement and not the result of a tip from the public, Judd has been in contact with those who donated to ask them to allow the money to go to Bradley’s family.
The following law enforcement agencies contributed to the investigation: Putnam, Bureau, LaSalle, Peoria and Cook county sheriff’s offices; the Spring Valley, LaSalle, Peru, Oglesby, Ottawa, Streator, Peoria and Chicago police departments; the Illinois State Police and the Illinois State Police Crime Scene Services; Tri-DENT; and the Putnam, Bureau and LaSalle county state’s attorney’s offices.