Woman with Vicksburg ties abducted by inmate, murdered

Published 1:27 pm Friday, July 28, 2017

HOMER, La. — A family in Vicksburg is grieving the loss of a loved one following a horrific kidnapping and murder in Homer, La. Thursday.

According to authorities, Amanda Leigh Carney, 18, was the victim of an incident that took place at the David Wade Correctional Center, during which she was kidnapped by an escaped inmate and later murdered.

The Louisiana Department of Corrections in a press release Friday said 39-year-old Deltra Henderson was reported missing after 1 p.m. Thursday from the facility.

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During his escape, Henderson reportedly stole a vehicle, and then abducted Carney, who was the stepdaughter of an assistant warden and who lived on the grounds of the facility.

A short time later, Henderson crashed the vehicle in a remote area north of the prison. It is in that area where Carney’s body was found.

Officials said Henderson made contact with another person and stole a second car before crashing it as well. He then entered a nearby home and gained access to an unsecured firearm.

The Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office said officers found the home and surrounded it. Henderson opened fire, and officers returned fire, killing him.

It is not sure known when or how Carney was killed. Her body was transported to the crime lab in Little Rock, Ark., and was scheduled to be delivered to Riles Funeral Home in Vicksburg later Friday.

Carney is the daughter of Andrea Leigh Bell and the stepdaughter of James Arnold, and the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Bell of Vicksburg. Howard Carney is Carney’s father.

Bell and Arnold were not at home at the time of the incident, nor was Carney’s 11-year-old sister, who was spending time this summer with family in Vicksburg.

Carney, who was leaving home to go to work at a nearby Albertson’s when she was abducted, had recently graduated from Summerfield High School and was enrolled at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia, Ark. She planned to study nursing.

Henderson, who had achieved trusty status, had been at the prison since 2001 on convictions of attempted armed robbery, aggravated burglary and cocaine distribution.

About Tim Reeves

Tim Reeves, and his wife Stephanie, are the parents of three children, Sarah Cameron, Clayton and Fin, who all attend school in the Vicksburg Warren School District. The family are members of First Baptist Church Vicksburg. Tim is involved in a number of civic and volunteer organizations including the United Way of West Central Mississippi and serves on the City of Vicksburg's Riverfront Redevelopment Committee.

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