Brittney Leigh Hensley/Facebook, Maria Tsygankova/
In a tragic and alarming case, a Minnesota mother has been arrested and charged with felony child abuse after allegedly making a failed “suicide pact” with her 10-year-old daughter. Brittney Leigh Hensley, 37, reportedly allowed her young daughter to attempt the pact alone and then fled the state afterward. Authorities eventually located her in Alabama, where she was taken into custody.
The incident occurred on July 6 when officers from the Ocean Springs Police Department in Minnesota received an emergency call at 6:30 p.m. regarding an unresponsive child at a local extended-stay motel, Studio 6, where Hensley and her daughter were living. When first responders arrived on the scene, they found the young girl unconscious. Hensley, her mother, reportedly fled shortly after the child was discovered.
Paramedics quickly transported the child to a nearby hospital, where she fortunately regained consciousness. In the aftermath of the incident, Ocean Springs Police Chief Ryan Lemaire spoke about what officers learned from the girl after she regained consciousness. According to Chief Lemaire, the child informed officers about the “suicide pact” her mother had proposed.
“She had this suicide pact with her daughter,” Lemaire said. He further explained that Hensley began to panic when her daughter did not immediately wake up. This troubling revelation highlighted the seriousness of the charges against Hensley, with authorities questioning what led to her alleged actions.
Following the incident, the police conducted an investigation and concluded that Hensley had likely left Minnesota and traveled to Alabama, where she has family. As part of their search efforts, Mississippi Crime Stoppers issued an alert to the public, requesting assistance in locating her. This alert proved helpful, as Hensley was eventually found and arrested by the Huntsville Police Department in Alabama on October 15. Huntsville officers took her into custody on behalf of the Ocean Springs Police Department based on a warrant for “Felonious Child Abuse” related to poisoning.
Hensley was subsequently extradited back to Minnesota, where she is currently held at the Jackson County Jail on a $500,000 bond. As of now, it remains unclear whether she has secured legal representation. If convicted, the charges against her could result in severe legal consequences, given the nature and gravity of the alleged abuse.
This case has drawn significant attention due to its disturbing nature, and it raises questions about mental health and the circumstances leading to such incidents. Although specific details surrounding Hensley’s motivations have not been publicly disclosed, the involvement of a child in a “suicide pact” has brought forth concerns from the community about how to recognize and intervene in situations where individuals may be at risk.
As this case progresses, the investigation will likely reveal more about the events leading up to the alleged pact. For now, Hensley remains in custody, facing charges that could have lasting legal implications.
