Bradley Stokes.Photo:Russell County Sheriff’s Office
Russell County Sheriff’s Office
Hennessy had recently been granted permission to stay at the fire station as a “safe house,” police said, after moving out of her on-and-off again boyfriend Bradley Stokes’ residence late last month, just days after the couple posted on social media about her pregnancy.
“Stokes was waiting and hiding on her,” Russell County Sheriff Heath Taylorclaimed at a news conferenceSunday, detailing the killing.
According to Taylor, Stokes then allegedly tried to hide Hennessey’s car in bushes behind a barn across the street before fleeing in his own vehicle. The victim’s car was found the next day when local farmers were trimming the bushes, Taylor said.
Taylor said police tracked down Stokes at a hotel in Columbus, Ga., and he was arrested later that day. The Russell County Sheriff’s Office said its officers engaged in “a short vehicle and foot chase” before detaining Stokes.“Stokes is charged with Capital Murder and awaiting extradition to Russell County,” the sheriff’s office said ina statement.
Treasure Hennessey.Treasure Hennessey/Facebook
Treasure Hennessey/Facebook
It’s not immediately clear if Stokes has entered a plea or retained an attorney.
Stokes had just been released from prison in early June following a 16-year sentence for gun violations and a manslaughter charge, Taylor told reporters at Sunday’s news conference.WRBL reportsthe victim in that case was Stokes' wife.
“Shortly after that release, he entered into a relationship with Ms. Hennessey and they dated off and on for the next couple of months,” Taylor said.
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Taylor, the sheriff, said the expecting mother moved into the fire station in late August, where Stokes eventually found out where she was staying. Stokes allegedly hid out and ambushed his ex-girlfriend before stabbing her to death, the sheriff said.
“He felt like Ms. Hennessey was going to sign a warrant for domestic violence on him, which would violate his probation and send him back to prison for the remainder of his sentence,” Taylor alleged, laying out a possible motive.
Taylor said investigators recovered a knife from Stokes’ car, which they believe to be the murder weapon.
On social media, family members mourned Hennessey’s death. “I’m so lost, I’m so hurt,” Hennessey’s sister Tiffany wrote in one post. “Never thought this would happen to us.”
If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go tothehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
source: people.com
