Henderson Horse Farm: 1953 Incident

Henderson Horse Farm:1993 Incident
Henderson Horse Farm, located outside Tryon in Polk County, North Carolina, was situated on land owned by the Henderson family since the mid-1800s. In 1953, the ranch was acquired and managed by Ted Wilcox Henderson (41), Judi Henderson (wife, 36), and Tracy Henderson (daughter, 6). On the morning of June 15, neighbors called the local police complaining of shouts and gunfire from the property.

Sheriff Clint Denterman (54) and two delegates, Dan Parks (24) and Chris Belas (33), arrived at the farm at 8:34 AM. They found that the horses in the stable had been torn apart, "almost as if they were attacked by wild animals." Inside the main house, reports stated the presence of fresh blood throughout the living room, kitchen and hallway.

Ted Wilcox Henderson was found in the room, barricaded behind furniture. Beside him was the body of his wife, shot dead by the shotgun. Ted still had the gun in his hands. Dan Parks was quoted as having reported:

"Ted was terrified, his gaze was distant. He did not seem to notice we were in the room. We asked what happened. Where was your daughter? But he did not answer. "

Ted was accused of murdering his wife. However, due to his catatonic state, he was admitted to Jenkins Mental Hospital in Sandy Plains, Polk County. Ted stayed in a catatonic state for over three years. On the third anniversary of the murder, Dr. Dauton on June 15, 1956 referred to a "thin fellow ... suit ... looking at me ..." who had murdered both Judi Henderson and his daughter Tracy. Ted said that Judi asked him to kill her, and felt that he had "saved her" by doing so. However, after mourning for having been unable to stop the "thin man" from running away with his daughter, Ted began to "hit his face several times" on the steel table on which he was sitting, having to be restrained and sedated by hospital nurses. Less than seven hours later, at about 3:00 AM on July 16, Ted was found dead in his room after seemingly escaping his restraints and chewing on his own fist, cutting off the ulnar artery and bleeding to death. Tracy Henderson's body was never found, however, a photograph taken about a week before the Henderson Farm incident shows what appears to be a man in a suit standing in front of the stables. Some claim him to be the "Slender Man."

(Credits for Fear of Slender)



Credited to RenanAssuno