DUBLIN — On the September 2020 afternoon she was murdered, Livermore resident Kellie Henry had her luggage packed and was prepared go away her boyfriend Gregory Stephens, members of Henry’s household mentioned in courtroom.
As a substitute, Stephens, 39, fatally shot 51-year-old Henry at their residence on the 9200 block of Tesla Highway in Livermore, referred to as the couple’s younger son to admit, and supplied to point out different members of the family footage of Henry’s physique, in keeping with her brother.
These revelations have been made public at a November sentencing, the place a number of members of Henry’s household spoke publicly in regards to the homicide for the primary time, memorializing their liked one and expressing displeasure a couple of plea deal that permits Stephens to hunt parole in 15 years. The listening to transcript, filed late final month, additionally consists of an apology by Stephens wherein he blamed alcoholism for the homicide and mentioned he's searching for counseling.
Final yr, Stephens pleaded no contest to second-degree homicide, accepting a sentence of 15 years to life. Beneath the phrases, he will likely be eligible for parole round 2035, however with no assure he'll ever be launched.
Henry’s brother, Jason Wilson, mentioned in courtroom he believes Stephens deserved a extra stringent sentence and blamed Alameda County prosecutors’ “lack of will” to take the case to trial.
“On the day you murdered my sister and referred to as your son on the telephone to inform him you had murdered his mom, you modified our household’s lives perpetually,” Wilson mentioned. “You didn’t present no regret to myself or my nieces by asking us, whereas we have been on the telephone, if we needed to see footage of her loss of life. You confirmed that you're pure evil.”
Michaela Henry, one in every of Kellie Henry’s three youngsters, mentioned that her mom had a automotive packed filled with belongings the day Stephens fatally shot her.
“She was determined to get out,” Michaela Henry mentioned.
“My mom was somebody who was essentially the most sort and mild soul anybody may have ever recognized,” she added. “She was sturdy, loyal, brave. She at all times had a smile on her face, and she or he was at all times the one who folks would really feel prompt consolation when subsequent to her.”
Earlier than he was sentenced, Stephens learn an apology letter that mentioned “alcohol performed a significant position in my life and the offense,” and that he’s attending substance-abuse and anger-management lessons whereas incarcerated.
“If it was doable, I'd return and make totally different selections, so nobody can be right here going by way of this at this time. I'm deeply ashamed and saddened by this tragedy,” Stephens mentioned. “It's my hope that the therapeutic course of can start for everybody now that I’m sentenced and paying for my wrongdoing.”
Stephens was arrested the identical day because the homicide, following a two-and-a-half hour standoff on the residence the place Kellie Henry was shot. He instructed members of the family that he was going to take his personal life, however ultimately surrendered after SWAT negotiators stepped in, in keeping with a possible trigger assertion written by Alameda County Sheriff’s investigators on the time.
The homicide weapon was recovered on the scene.