Baby found dead in dumpster was thrown around for crying, NLV police say
Weeks before a North Las Vegas infant was found dead in a dumpster, her father, in a fit of rage, threw her across a room while she sat in a baby swing because she cried too much, according to police.
No one called police or child protective services after the baby was thrown, according to a North Las Vegas police report made public Tuesday.
Jessica Henderson's body was recovered Sunday night, police said. The two-month-old girl had been stuffed in a gray diaper bag and thrown away.
Police said they found her in a dumpster behind a Boys and Girls Club in the 4000 block of Allen Lane.
Mason Henderson, 24, was arrested that same night and is facing a murder charge in connection with the baby's death.
Henderson's fiance had reported him and their infant missing about 12:30 a.m. Sunday, police said. The mother had returned to their apartment in the 3800 block of Craig Crossing Drive, near the intersection of Craig Road and Allen Lane, to find their other child, a 1-year-old girl, alone in her crib.
North Las Vegas police tracked him down, they said, after one of his friends called them saying Henderson showed up at his apartment uninvited, looking "pale and upset."
Henderson told his friend he had killed someone, the report said. The friend left home and called police about 6 p.m.
By 6:30 p.m., the report said, police had gone to the friend's apartment and arrested Henderson.
During an interview with detectives, the report said, Henderson said his daughter was in a dumpster on Allen Lane.
When asked if she was still alive, the report said, Henderson shook his head.
Then Henderson said he wouldn't answer any other questions without his lawyer present, the report said.
Jessica's body was found about 9 p.m.
Henderson was booked at the Las Vegas City Jail on one count each of first degree murder and child endangerment, according to jail logs. Court records show no record of other arrests or convictions in Clark County.
He is scheduled to appear in North Las Vegas Justice Court at 8:15 a.m. Wednesday.
Contact reporter Colton Lochhead at clochhead@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4638. Find him on Twitter: @ColtonLochhead
