Kennath Henderson

Case record: Kennath Henderson

Timeline

• April 26, 1997 — Kennath Henderson was planning an escape from the Fayette County Jail and had a .380 semi-automatic pistol smuggled into the jail through his girlfriend.
• May 2, 1997 — Deputy Tommy Bishop transported Kennath Henderson and another inmate, Ms. Deloice Guy, to Dr. John Cima’s office in a marked police car for dental work.
• May 2, 1997 — During the dental appointment, Kennath Henderson shot Deputy Tommy Bishop; the deputy later died from the shooting.
• After the shooting on May 2, 1997 — Kennath Henderson stole Dr. Cima’s truck, drove away, sped away when police began to follow him, and drove off the road and into a ditch.
• July 13, 1998 — Kennath Henderson was sentenced to death.

Background

Kennath Henderson was incarcerated at the Fayette County Jail serving consecutive sentences for felony escape and aggravated burglary.

The offence

Kennath Henderson killed Fayette County Deputy Tommy Bishop, 43, by shooting him through the back of the head at point-blank range during an attempted escape from the Fayette County Jail in 1997.

Investigation

Police officers followed Kennath Henderson after he drove away in Dr. Cima’s truck. After he drove off the road and into a ditch, officers took him into custody.

When officers searched the truck, they found the murder weapon, Deputy Bishop’s gun, and personal items taken from Dr. Cima’s office.

Arrest

After driving into a ditch, Kennath Henderson was taken into custody by police officers.

Trial

At the time of the events giving rise to this case, Kennath Henderson was incarcerated at the Fayette County Jail.

Sentencing

Kennath Henderson was sentenced to death on July 13, 1998.

Outcome

The Supreme Court of Tennessee and the Court of Criminal Appeals of Tennessee heard proceedings in the case involving Kennath Henderson v. State of Tennessee and The Supreme Court of Tennessee State of Tennessee v. Kennath Artez Henderson.

Other details

Kennath Henderson’s sentencing status described an attempted escape.

A couple of days after April 26, 1997, Kennath Henderson requested dental work on a tooth that needed to be pulled, and an appointment was made for May 2 with Dr. John Cima, a dentist practicing in Somerville. Dr. Cima had practiced dentistry in Somerville for more than thirty years, and he had often seen inmate patients. This was not Kennath Henderson’s first visit to see Dr. Cima.

On May 2, 1997, Deputy Tommy Bishop, who was serving in his official capacity as a transport officer for the Fayette County Sheriff’s office, took Kennath Henderson and another inmate, Ms. Deloice Guy, to Dr. Cima’s office in a marked police car. Upon arrival, Dr. Cima placed Kennath Henderson and Ms. Guy in separate treatment rooms, and each patient was numbed for tooth extraction.

Deputy Bishop remained in the reception area and talked with the receptionist while Dr. Cima and his assistant returned to Kennath Henderson’s treating room to begin the tooth extraction.

When Dr. Cima and his assistant returned, Kennath Henderson pulled out his .380 pistol. Dr. Cima immediately reached for the pistol, and he and Kennath Henderson struggled over the weapon. During the struggle, Dr. Cima called out for Deputy Bishop, and the deputy hurried back to the treatment room. Just as the deputy arrived at the door, Kennath Henderson regained control of the pistol and fired a shot at Deputy Bishop, which grazed him on the neck.

Although not fatal, this shot caused Deputy Bishop to fall backwards, hit his head against the doorframe or the wall, and then fall to the floor face down, presumably unconscious.

Kennath Henderson left the treating room and came back with the receptionist in his custody. Kennath Henderson reached down and took Deputy Bishop’s pistol, and he took money, credit cards, and truck keys from Dr. Cima. Kennath Henderson ordered Dr. Cima and the receptionist to accompany him out of the building.

Just before Kennath Henderson turned to leave the building, he went back to the treatment room, leaned over Deputy Bishop, and shot him through the back of the head at point-blank range. Deputy Bishop had not moved since first being shot in the neck moments earlier and was still lying face-down on the floor by the door to the treatment room when Kennath Henderson fatally shot him.

Once outside of the office, Kennath Henderson was startled by another patient, and Dr. Cima and the receptionist were able to escape back into the office. Once inside, Dr. Cima locked the door and called the police.

Kennath Henderson stole Dr. Cima’s truck and drove away at a slow speed so as not to attract any attention to himself. When police officers began to follow him, Kennath Henderson sped away, and eventually drove off the road and into a ditch.