Kayla Henriques

Case details

Kayla Henriques was convicted after pleading guilty to manslaughter in connection with the stabbing death of Kamisha Richards. Henriques received a prison sentence of 15 years in August 2013.

People involved

• Kayla Henriques (also written as Kayla Henriques/“KK”), defendant (age given as 18 and 20 in different parts of the record).
• Kamisha Richards, victim (age given as 22 in different parts of the record).
• Alex, Henriques’ one-year-old child (referred to as the baby connected to the $20 loan).
• Ramel Henriques (also written as Ramel Henriques), Henriques’ brother and Richards’ boyfriend (age given as 25 in one account; described as having been dating Richards “on and off for about seven years” and “the eventual victim” was dating him).
• Shanika Henriques, Henriques’ sister (described as weighing in during the online dispute).
• Frederick Spiegel, defense lawyer.
• Det. Christopher Obdyke, detective who questioned the defendant.
• Oren Yaniv, author of a narrative piece.
• Matthew Lysiak, Christina Boyle and Larry Mcshane, authors of a narrative piece.
• Deputy Commissioner Paul J. Browne, police spokesman.
• Nicole Colter-Henry, Richards’ mother.
• Schneiqua Henry, Richards’ sister (age given as 20).
• Dunstan Henry, Richards’ stepfather (age given as 42).
• Donell Henry, Richards’ brother (age given as 21).
• Yasmin Payne, Richards’ friend (age given as 22).
• Barbie, neighbor in the Cypress Hills Houses.
• Schneiqua Henry, Donell Henry, Dunstan Henry, and others are identified as family members making funeral arrangements and commenting on the dispute.

Timeline

• February 2011 — Kamisha Richards was stabbed and later died.
• Sunday (day before the stabbing, year not restated beyond February 2011 context) — The Facebook dispute over a $20 loan and related text messages escalated.
• Monday night (in East New York, Brooklyn, in an apartment where the women were living) — The argument took place and Richards was mortally wounded.
• Tuesday (following the stabbing and arrest) — Police accounts described Henriques’ arrest and charging; family statements and reporting continued.
• March 1, 2011 — Narrative reporting described the dispute and arrest; Henriques was described as having been charged with second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon.
• August 2013 — Henriques was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
• August 21 (year consistent with August 2013 context) — Henriques was to be sentenced on Aug. 21.

The offence

The dispute between Kayla Henriques and Kamisha Richards began over $20 that Richards had given Henriques for baby formula and diapers. The dispute became a heated matter shared publicly on Facebook. The record describes the argument escalating, with Richards confronting Henriques and later meeting Henriques on Monday night in an apartment in East New York, Brooklyn where Henriques, Richards, and relatives of both women were present.

Henriques’ confession described that she had been close to scissors and grabbed it, then a knife was grabbed from the kitchen, and “She swung and I swung.” Richards was mortally wounded by a single stab wound delivered to the chest and died shortly after the stabbing.

Background

The two women were described as good friends, with Richards taking Henriques under her wing. Richards had thrown a baby shower for Henriques and had helped plan Alex’ birthday.

The record described that the women had exchanged threatening posts on Facebook in the days leading to the incident, and that they also texted back and forth while in the same apartment during the events leading up to the stabbing.

Investigation

Police accounts described that:

• Internet postings added pieces to investigators’ knowledge.
• Elements of the case emerged on Facebook.
• After the stabbing, police followed a blood trail to a neighboring building where Henriques was arrested.
• A kitchen knife was found at the crime scene on Sutter Ave. in East New York.
• Henriques was arrested by about 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday after witnesses helped point investigators in her direction and the suspect “said things to implicate herself.”

The police described investigating whether Richards had claimed Henriques’ son as a dependent for tax purposes and whether that was an element in the dispute.

Arrest and charging

Henriques was charged with:

• Second-degree murder
• Criminal possession of a weapon

Trial

Henriques pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

Sentencing

Henriques was sentenced to 15 years in prison in August 2013.

A defense lawyer, Frederick Spiegel, was quoted describing the situation as “a tragedy all around.”

Outcome

The case outcome was that Henriques pleaded guilty to manslaughter and received a 15-year prison sentence in August 2013.

Other details

Court and police statements and quotations

• Defense lawyer Frederick Spiegel said: “It was a tragedy all around”
• Detective Det. Christopher Obdyke, who questioned the defendant, testified: “They also started texting back and forth while they were in the same apartment.”
• Henriques wrote in her confession: “She was close to scissors and grabbed it. I ran to the kitchen and grabbed a knife. She swung and I swung. Then Kamisha kept yelling 'This b---h stabbed me.'”
• Police spokesman Deputy Commissioner Paul J. Browne said: “Like so many things these days, elements of this case emerged on Facebook”
• Browne** said: “Like so many things these days, elements of this case emerged on Facebook,” and that it was not immediately clear if those clues had been gleaned before Henriques’ arrest.
• A law enforcement official said of the arrest: “It was witnessed by several people, in the apartment,” and that “said things to implicate herself,” according to a law enforcement official.

Family and witness quotations

• Richards’ mother Nicole Colter-Henry said: “The world lost an angel for $20,”
• Richards’ mother Nicole Colter-Henry said: “It's senseless,”
• Richards’ mother Nicole Colter-Henry said: “She didn't deserve this.”
• Henriques, when asked by reporters outside the 75th Precinct stationhouse if she felt bad about the slaying, said: “No, 'cause it was a mistake,” and “I was protecting my kids.”
• Neighbor Barbie said: “They had been beefing for about three days,”
• Richards’ sister Schneiqua Henry (20) said: “She didn’t pay it any mind,” and “She thought it was just another argument.”
• Richards’ stepfather Dunstan Henry (42) said: “She’s the type of person that would let you run your mouth off and she wouldn’t say nothing,”
• Dunstan Henry (42) also said he raised Richards since she was a newborn after her biological father returned to Kingston, Jamaica.
• Richards’ brother Donell Henry (21) said: “She didn’t use nobody as a tax write-off. When anyone needed anything in that house, she provided for them.”
• Yasmin Payne (22) said Richards planned on attending Brooklyn Law School and took the LSAT in December.
• Ms. Henry said: “The next thing you know, she stabbed my sister in the heart,” and “she stabbed my sister in the heart,”
• A grieving mother Nicole Colter-Henry (39) said: “Her boyfriend came over Sunday night and promised that it was all just Facebook bluster - that no one would hurt my baby,” and “Now my baby is dead.”
• Nicole Colter-Henry (39) said: “I wanted something better for them,” and “I’m never going to see my daughter. All over $20.”

Verbatim Facebook/text-message quotations

The record included the following quoted Facebook or message text:

• Kamisha Richards wrote at 5:44 p.m. on Sunday: “the last time u will con me into giving u money.”
• Kayla Henriques replied at 5:54 p.m. (ten minutes later): “Dnt try to expose me mama but I’m not tha type to thug it ova facebook see u wen u get frm wrk.”
• At 8:52 p.m., Ms. Richards said: “In capital letters, at 8:52 p.m., Ms. Richards said that she would have the last laugh.” (Verbatim message content provided in the narrative: “I hope u having fun entertaining the world ... Trust, IMA HAVE THE LAST LAUGH!!!”)
• Kayla Henriques replied within seconds: “We will see.”
• A Sunday night message attributed to Richards said: “Kayla now u getin outa hand ... I hope u having fun entertaining the world ... Trust, IMA HAVE THE LAST LAUGH!!!”
• A terse reply attributed to Henriques said: “We will see.”
• Henriques’ Facebook page carried a message: “I can't be leave this happen I'm sorry I send my condolences to her family RiP kamisha.”
• Ramel Henriques wrote: “Kamisha, I miss you,” and “I need you baby.”
• A quote attributed to Henriques’ Facebook post said: “B---h man up ... I'm here make a move,”
• In a dialogue described as text messages, Henriques wrote: “Lol not u.”
• Richards wrote: “Who u talking about???”
• Henriques wrote: “Everybody were u at,”
• Richards wrote: “Everybody were u at,” (appearing as part of the described back-and-forth)
• Henriques wrote: “my mother was here.”
• Henriques wrote: “In tha house,”
• Richards wrote: “O ok,”
• Richards wrote: “Oo where u @,”
• Henriques’ reply after Richards’ note about money was described: “Lol not u.”
• A Facebook exchange described Richards using an acronym indicating she was laughing hard: “girl bye I guess I’ll c u later just bring the money.”
• Henriques’ sister Shanika Henriques weighed in with: “bugging” out over “20bucks.”
• Shanika Henriques warned Richards: “Kamisha shuddup. Enough is enough … U didn’t even have to write all that on fb.”
• Shanika Henriques also warned: “mad nosey” people could read it all.
• Shanika Henriques told her sister: “Kk relax 5.”
• A quoted post attributed to Henriques said: “I can't be leave this happen I'm sorry I send my condolences to her family RiP kamisha.”

Education and employment details (as stated in the record)

• Richards was described as a graduate of John Jay College of Criminal Justice, with a degree in criminal justice.
• Richards worked security for JPMorgan Chase and worked at a nursing home.
• Richards took the LSAT and hoped to begin law school; she was described as awaiting her Law School Admission Test results.
• Henriques was described as attending John Adams High School and as living in Brooklyn.
• Henriques was described as being single and as being “interested in men.”
• Henriques was described as having a degree from John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

Location details (as stated)

• The stabbing and associated apartment events occurred in East New York, Brooklyn.
• Police found a kitchen knife at the crime scene on Sutter Ave.
• The record described the apartment as the East New York apartment of Henriques’ grandmother.
• The women were described as living in the Cypress Hills Houses, with family and friends noting they lived in the same complex but in different apartments.

Victim death and medical outcome

Richards died shortly after the stabbing at Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center; the record also described she was declared dead on arrival. The record stated Richards died of a single stab wound.