Henretta Gets Death Penalty In 1988 Murder In Bradley County

  • Friday, April 5, 2002

A Bradley County jury on Saturday took less than three hours to decide that John Patrick Henretta should be put to death for a killing that occurred 14 years ago.

The panel on Friday had ruled him guilty of first-degree murder and other charges.

The verdict was read to the court by Sheriff Dan Gilley. Then Judge Steve Bebb read the jury's finding that Henretta be put to death by lethal injection.

Henretta had no reaction when the sentence was read. Later, he told jurors he took full responsibility for the crime and was ready to die, saying he had become a Christian. He shook hands with the sheriff and deputies before being taken back to Nashville.

The 59-year-old drifter had confessed to killing Salvation Army Thrift Store employee Francis Rose Crabtree.

He was foundguilty on all eight counts he faced, including robbery, sexual assault and kidnapping charges.

Henretta had admitted to sexually assaulting and robbing Ms. Crabtree at the Cleveland thrift store in 1988.

The state relied on DNA evidence as part of its proof.

Henretta is already under a life prison sentence in Pennsylvania for murder and rape.

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