Judge finds New Castle murder suspect guilty of less serious charge
A more than two-year-long ordeal is nearing an end for the family of a New Castle man who was reported missing and then found dead.
Lawrence County Common Pleas Court Judge Dominic Motto on Thursday found Connor Henry guilty of voluntary manslaughter and a weapons violation in connection with the 2020 shooting death of 19-year-old Amari Wise.
Henry, 22, had been charged with first-degree murder but on Monday opted to have his case decided by the judge instead of a jury.
Sentencing for Henry will be held later.
The case dates to June 6, 2020, when a missing person report was filed for Wise.
Two days later, police found a blood-stained car that Wise was last seen driving.
Acting on tips that Henry shot Wise in a garage following an argument, police searched the home of Henry’s father, Todd Henry, turning up a spent shell casing and two firearm magazines.
A neighbor showed police a video recording with the sounds of a single gunshot followed by shouting and panicked voices on the night of June 5.
Detectives say the floor of Henry’s garage appeared lighter in one spot, almost as if it had been cleaned or power washed.
Later, a man told police when he arrived, he had seen someone pressure washing the garage floor.
According to police, the man was told to leave and that Todd Henry "was going to smoke him."
Informants told police that on the night of the suspected killing, a group including Connor Henry, his father, and Wise were drinking and smoking in Todd's garage.
According to the criminal complaint, Connor Henry was standing behind Wise and shot him with a semi-automatic handgun.
Both informants said they saw Wise drop to the ground before they ran away.
Ten days after Wise had been reported missing, his body was found in Shenango Township between Pennsylvania Avenue and a creek.
Police initially charged Connor Henry with criminal homicide and tampering with evidence.
As for Henry's father, now 49 years old, he is awaiting trial on charges of obstructing justice, tampering with evidence, and destroying evidence. A charge of attempted homicide was withdrawn.
