Suspect in Staged Hanging in Abilene May Have Killed His Wife in Grape Creek 25 Years Ago

SAN ANGELO, TX -- Ricky Don Henderson is the person of interest in the death of his first wife in 1993 according to law enforcement officials Wednesday.  He is now the primary suspect in the 'brutal and vicious' staged hanging death in April 2018 murder of Jeannie Quinn in Abilene. 

As we reported earlier, the Abilene Police Department is seeking information from anyone who may have had contact with Ricky Don Henderson, 56, on Sunday, April 15, 2018. Henderson may have been in the west Abilene area, somewhere near Interstate 20 corridor or South 1st Street area. If you had contact with him or possibly gave him a ride, we ask that you contact the Abilene Police Department at (325) 676-6610. This request is in reference to an ongoing investigation.

Henderson has a dark past including the disappearance of his wife in Grape Creek in 1993.  According to sources, Stephanie Henderson was living in Grape Creek when she disappeared in 1993. Stephanie never had children and lived with her grandmother most of her life in Grape Creek just north of San Angelo. Stephanie was last seen in Levelland, TX on Nov. 28, 1993. She had an argument with her husband, Ricky Don Henderson, that day. Stephanie called her grandmother to say she was leaving. Her grandmother went to Stephanie's home, but by the time she got there Stephanie was gone. 

Stephanie left all of her personal belongings, including her purse and her only pair of shoes, behind at her home when she vanished. Her disappearance was not reported for several weeks because her family believed she was staying with her friends in New Mexico. Then Stephanie's grandmother got a typed letter supposedly from Stephanie which stated she was living in Hobbs. But the letter was postmarked Lubbock, TX and when Stephanie's grandmother noticed this she became suspicious and contacted police.

John Quinn called it a brutal and vicious murder.

"We are determined to not let this case go cold," Quinn said.

Jeannie Quinn was reported missing  from Levelland on April 15, and two days later Abilene Police found the body hanging with hard wire wrapped around her neck and bags around her hands. After the autopsy, police determined that it was a staged hanging.

"We are pleading with the public for information that can help get justice for Jeannie and possibly spare another innocent victim and their loved ones," said Jeannie's uncle, John Quinn. 

The initial $10,000 reward has increased to $11,645 because of a GoFundMe account set up by the family. Police have a person of interest in the case but have not publicly identified the suspect.

Jeannie would have turned 21 on Dec. 15.

If anyone has any information about Henderson or this case, call the tip line at (325) 676-6598.