Voices

We have received many letters of support for Cathy, both from people who know her and from complete strangers. Cathy herself has received well over 1000 letters in the past two months letting her know she is in people's hearts and prayers and that she is not forgotten, no matter how alone she may feel on Death Row.

Below is a small sampling of some of the correspondence we've received.

(Note that the thoughts and sentiments expressed in these messages and articles are those of the authors, and not necessarily of this web site.)

Dennis Sturgis: A friend from Cathy's days in the Kansas City projects

I will be writing to Cathy as soon as tomorrow to see if she remembers me. I knew her instantly even through that horrible picture I found of her online while doing a search for something else.
I immediately called my wife into the room and told her I remember this girl from when I was young. I was sure it was her. Then I told my wife how I remember her. When I would visit my cousins, she was always outside and was always ready to play any game I chose. I told my wife that the one thing I remembered most about her was how she always wanted to go over to this hill and look for these little pickle clovers which we would eat until our tongues were yellow.
I then did more searching and found this website. I just sat and stared and read it over and over when I came to the part where she told the story of those same pickle clovers. My cousins lived in the projects. I kept thinking, "Oh no, it IS her. This cannot be."
I hope she remembers me. I have now read more of her life in those projects. I only knew her as a guaranteed play date, and a friend who smiled a lot. What is happening now is tragic for everyone involved. I hate this. I will do my best to write only words that bring joy and reassurance to her. This is so hard for me.

Dennis goes on to say:

I have made a page about Cathy and published it already. You'll find it on my web site.

Steve Henderson was one of Cathy's spiritual advisors on death row. He has written two articles about Cathy and her case. The first is Capital Punishment: A Question of Faith. The second is Cathy and Kenneth, in which he contrasts Cathy's case with that of Kenneth McDuff, who was executed by the state of Texas for his crimes.

DeAnn Gentry

I am the daughter of Cathy's last foster parents, Delbert and Betty Gentry. I have not tried to contact Cathy over the past several years because I was under the pretense, apparently false, that Cathy did not want contact from anyone. I recently wrote her because as I told her, I couldn't hold out any longer once I heard the news that an execution date had been set for her.
I would never believe in a million years that Cathy is guilty of what the State of Texas has convicted her for. When she was first arrested, I tried numerous times to contact her attorney. I left her voice mail messages asking her to call me because I wanted her to hear my story. I finally left it all on her voice mail since she never called me. I assumed that what I had to say was irrelevant.
My husband at the time (now ex) fell in our kitchen and that fall fractured his skull in two places. He spent a month in the hospital and needed physical therapy to walk again. Our house sat on a concrete slab, rather than a basement, which had a lot to do with the extent of his injuries. Cathy dropped little Brandon in a similar setting, on a floor that was atop a concrete slab. Everyone knows that a little premie baby would have a much softer skull than an adult, so it is not hard for me to realize the extent of injuries he would have suffered after being dropped.
I believe she is guilty of making bad choices after she dropped the baby and realized he was dead, but I can also understand the reasons behinds those decisions. Fear, panic, guilt, depression will do strange things to a human being and make them react in ways they normally wouldn't. I have been in similar situations before and once those situations were past, I could not recall what my actions were immediately after and in some cases came to the realization that I had also made bad choices. It's called human error.

Mary Kenady

Cathy and I were best friends in high school in Trenton, MO. She is not a monster but a very kind and hard-working friend I could always count on. She is a survivor who never focused on her past. She does not deserve to have her life taken away due to the accident that happened with Brandon. I am praying for justice and peace for Cathy.

From Sr. Mary (Sisters of St. Joseph, Baden)

I am praying with you these days and hoping that somehow this sentence can pass. I suppose you are having an especially long and hard time in the garden of Gethsemene. You sure understand how Jesus must have been feeling as his time was about to come. Only in our horrible system that waiting goes on and on. Please know that many people are holding you in prayer and you won't even hear from a small percentage of them. May you feel some of our love and support for you.
Peace,

John Gregor

Cathy's situation is unique. She was not stealing, robbing, nor a prostitute. She was earning money while staying home to watch on own children.
Many otherwise law abiding people panic when they realize they have killed someone. Not a big surprise when only the rich are likely to have the money and clout to get a fair trial or with enough means not even go to trial.
I like many people was uninformed thinking it really mattered if someone was innocent in a capital case. There have been increasingly widespread scandals in the Texas Legal system.
This case has changed my opinion on capital punishment, it could others too. Even if the system works and Cathy gets her death sentance lifted, it has come entirely too close. If Cathy is murdered by the state; how many remnants of the Republic do we have left?

Dee Hawk

I did an editorial about executing women, and included Cathy in it. I am against all executions.

Marilynn Mechtenberg, IHM

I have heard from one of Cathy Henderson's spiritual directors about the case, and I believe that Cathy is innocent of the death of the infant she was babysitting. It was not murder, but an accident. The writing by Cathy which she sent to me shows a deeply spiritual woman, grateful for the prayers of her supporters.
I am against capital punishment, as it perpetuates the myth that human beings have the right to take the life of another person. Only God has that right. Revenge is an evil. The death of the accused solves nothing. In many instances, DNA has shown people on death row to be innocent.
Please talk to those who know her best, her spiritual directors.

Kris Finch

Whilst the United States continues to murder its own children on this wretched death row it will continue to be looked down upon as a third world nation by the civilized modern world. Whilst the so called 'justice' of the U.S courts remains only available to the few with deep enough pockets to purchase it and until the system is mature enough to stop "murdering" innocent human beings...this madness called Death Row must stop.
Cathy’s case is clearly to any right thinking person unsafe. Only she knows the truth, therefore conviction can only be unsafe! And even if in a mad moment she did do it, there is no way with her history any reasonable person would kill her for it.
Shame is brought upon all the citizens of Texas for allowing their administration to murder innocent human beings.