1999 HOMICIDES:
Four shot to death in Sidney

On the afternoon of July 8, 1999 three teenage girls were murdered at 119 Queen St. in Sidney. The owner of the home, Laurence Michael Hensley, 30, fled the area and was at large for five days before surrendering. Michael Hensley   A fourth victim, Brett Wildermuth, was found shot at his home. Hensley and Wildermuth had attended the same church and Wildermuth had counseled Hensley, who had a criminal record for sex offenses and a history of exposing himself. Investigators later said that the girls, Sherry Kimbler, 16, Tosha Barrett, 16, and Amy Mikesell, 14, had apparently been paid by Hensley on several occasions to watch him masturbate, and may have been killed because the secret was about to be revealed.

Sherry Kimbler Amy Mikesell Tosha Barrett Brett Wildermuth

Hensley surrendered at a Sidney gas station on 7-13. (AP photo)

After five days as a fugitive, during which he drove as far as Georgia, Hensley returned to Sidney. Early on the morning of July 13, police received a call from the home of John Bruce, who, like Wildermuth knew Hensley from church. Hensley reportedly fired a shot through Bruce's front door when he refused to open it.   Moments later police spotted Hensley and followed him to a gas station where he held three hostages before finally surrendering.

Cheryl Cai, the mother of Sherry Kimbler, said Sherry told her days before the killings that Hensley was luring the girls to his house with offers of cash to watch him masturbate. Cai and other family members believe Hensley killed the girls because he feared his sex secrets were close to being revealed.    Police said Amy was stabbed to death, possibly hours before the other killings, her body hidden in Hensley's basement. The two other girls were shot to death in an upstairs bedroom.   A fourth young woman who was in Hensley's home at the time of the shooting, Veronica Eagy, 22, survived the attack and managed to climb out of a window and alert neighbors after Hensley had fled. Eagy identified Hensley as her assailant and testified before a Shelby County grand jury.    The grand jury's 10-count indictment alleged Hensley killed the girls and Wildermuth to cover up other unspecified crimes. Wildermuth, a Bible teacher at the First Church of God had previously counselled Hensley.   Hensley was born April 14, 1969, in Sidney, the son of Lawrence and Martha Hensley, who also have another son and three daughters. He is a lifelong Shelby County resident, although he has family ties in Harlan, Ky.    He attended the Sidney public schools until his sophomore year at Sidney High School, when he enrolled in a machine trades course at the joint vocational school in Piqua. He graduated from Sidney High School in 1987. Hensley being led into a courtroom for his arraignment.

Sources:

4 SHOT DEAD IN SIDNEY -- Gunman still on the loose; By Lisa Perry, Ben Sutherly and Mara Lee Dayton Daily News; Published: Friday, July 9, 1999 ; Page: 1A

SUSPECT HAS SEX RECORD -- Lawrence Michael Hensley has public indecency raps and asked for counseling; By Jim Bebbington Dayton Daily News; Published: Saturday, July 10, 1999 ; Page: 1A

SEX SECRETS MAY BE MOTIVE -- Slaying suspect remains at large; By Tom Beyerlein and Steve Bennish Dayton Daily News; Published: Saturday, July 10, 1999 ; Page: 1A

HENSLEY BEHIND BARS -- Suspect in 4 killings gives up; By Scott Elliott, Steve Bennish, Jim Bebbington and Tom Beyerlein Dayton Daily News; Published: Wednesday, July 14, 1999 ; Page: 1A

HENSLEY INDICTED, MAY FACE EXECUTION -- Jury hears from a woman who survived and may have witnessed the rampage; By Tom Beyerlein Dayton Daily News; Published: Friday, July 16, 1999 ; Page: 1A

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File created: 7-15-1999
Compiled by: DDN LIbrary staff

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