Henderson trial date set for Aug. 6

Several examples of case law were referenced during arguments regarding the criteria of what constitutes a delay during the Thursday afternoon hearing for suspect Richard A. Henderson in Putnam County Court.

Henderson, 26, is the Standard man investigators believe stabbed and killed Diamond Bradley, 16, of Spring Valley, whose body was found along a rural Putnam County road on Jan. 27.

Charged with the Class 3 felony of concealment of a homicide death, Henderson is being held on $1 million bond and faces additional charges as evidence continues to be processed.

"It is incumbent upon the state, not the defendant, to commence trial, under my theory, by June 5," Public Defender Roger Bolin previously said during a May 10 hearing.

During Henderson's Thursday hearing, Bolin read excerpts from the 2006 Illinois Supreme Court case "People v. Cordell." Putnam County State's Attorney Christina Judd-Mennie used the same case to argue her point to Judge Stephen Kouri.

The state has 120 days in which to begin a trial, and Bolin said his client has been in custody since Feb. 5. Putnam County State's Attorney Christina Judd-Mennie argued the last three continuances were agreed upon by both sides at previous hearings and that by doing so, the 120-day count would have stopped during those periods.

Kouri said he had reviewed the suggested cases submitted by both sides and said March 1 is when the dispute begins, 23 days into the 120-day count.

"He (Bolin) said 'We would like the record to reflect the defendant will tender a plea of 'not guilty' and ask that this matter be settled with a jury trial,' So, if the matter stops there, I'd agree with Mr. Bolin," Kouri stated.

However, he then said the matter didn't stop there, and Bolin hadn't requested a trial date at that time. He added by agreeing to the previous orders of continuance, which didn't contain a set trial date, the defense had acquiesced as to how the schedule was proceeding.

Kouri ruled the delays from May 10 to May 17 were attributable to the defense and the case was currently 30 days into the 120-day count for a speedy trial.

"I'm trying to balance the 120 days as a shield versus a sword," he said.

Henderson's final status hearing was set for 2:30 p.m. Thursday, July 19. His trial date was set for 9 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 6, although the judge said that date may or may not be moved.

Any future charges against Henderson will result in a second trial at a later date unless both sides agree to the delays it would cause. While both sides indicated they would rather not go through a second trial, it may be unavoidable.

During the ongoing investigation, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office developed information Henderson might have discarded a weapon at Color Point, the commercial greenhouse in rural Granville where he had been employed.

On April 11, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office was assisted in a search by Tri-DENT, Illinois State Police Crime Scene Services, the Spring Valley Police Department and the La Salle County Sheriff's Office.

The recovered weapon, a knife, is being analyzed at the Illinois State Police Crime Scene Services laboratory.

Bradley was last was seen on Jan. 23, and she was reported missing the following morning. Her body, stabbed multiple times, was found Jan. 27.

According to Putnam County Sheriff Kevin Doyle, investigators think Henderson and Bradley met online and that Henderson picked the teen up near her home between 6:30 and 7:30 a.m. on Jan. 24. Investigators believe Henderson then drove to the spot where her body was found and killed her.

Henderson was arrested after being interviewed at the police station. Tips, interviews, surveillance cameras and pings from Bradley's cellphone link him to her death, Doyle has said.