Officials believe 25-year-old's suicidal mother is responsible. Perry woman said to be despondent over death of her mother

By MARGIE TRAX PAGE

Staff Writer

mtrax@starbeacon.com



PERRY TOWNSHIP - - A man suffering from cerebral palsy died in a house fire Wednesday morning, which allegedly had been set by his suicidal mother.

Mike Henry, 25, slid out of his wheelchair and onto the floor as flames crawled up the walls of the yellow house at 3424 Parmly Road. His mother, Lisa Henry, allegedly called her husband at work, set the fire in the bedroom, and then sat in the bathtub and cut her wrists, Lake County Sheriff's Office chief deputy William Crosier said.

A suicide note was found in the home, Crosier said.

Husband John Henry rushed home to find his ranch-style house on fire. He pulled Lisa Henry from the house and returned to save his three grandchildren, one of whom is an infant, Perry Township Fire Capt. Mike King said.

John and Lisa Henry and the children were taken to LakeEast Hospital for treatment. John Henry and the children suffered from smoke inhalation, King said.

Lisa Henry was reportedly despondent over her mother's recent death and told her husband she wanted to go to heaven "to be with her mother and Mike," Crosier said.

Fire crews arrived at the scene at 9:37 a.m. but couldn't save Mike Henry from the flames in his small bedroom, King said.

"When we got here, Mike was our priority," King said. "The firefighters want to do what they can to save a person, and they did absolutely everything they could to get to Mike," he said.

The extreme heat and smoke billowed throughout the small house, keeping firefighters from reaching the victim, King said.

Fire crews from seven departments worked for hours to extinguish the flames. Firefighters from the Perry Township department sat on the rain-soaked grass and watched solemnly as Mike Henry's body was loaded into an ambulance.

The Lake County Coroner's Office will conduct an autopsy today. The state fire marshal is investigating.

Star Beacon Print Edition: 9/14/2006

Perry Township fire captain says victim's mother 'was under a lot of pressure'

By MARGIE TRAX PAGE

Staff Writer

mtrax@starbeacon.com



PERRY TOWNSHIP - - Plastic toys are scattered across the front yard at 3424 Parmly Road, evidence that small children once called this place home.

But rain now soaks through the roof of the smoke and heat-damaged home, the toys abandoned and the children taken away by tragedy.

Reportedly suffering depression, Lisa Henry allegedly set fire to the house Wednesday morning, killing her 25-year-old son Mike Henry, who suffered from cerebral palsy, Lake County Sheriff's Office chief deputy William Crosier said.

Lisa Henry allegedly called her husband at work, set fire to the bedroom and then sat in the bathtub and cut her wrists. She was reportedly despondent over her mother's recent death and told her husband she wanted to go to heaven "to be with her mother and Mike," Crosier said.

Husband John Henry rescued his wife and three young grandchildren from the house. Mike Henry died in his bedroom. Lisa Henry's suicide note was found in the house, Crosier said.

Every day, Lisa Henry took care of her disabled son and watched her grandchildren, several of whom lived in the Henrys' home. She was responsible for Mike Henry's care and education but relied on her mother for emotional support, neighbors said.

"I think (Lisa Henry) was under a lot of pressure," Perry Township Fire Capt. Mike King said. "It's sad, and there is no way to tell how much a person can take or just when a person will snap," he said.

Neighbor Linda McGonnell said Lisa Henry was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother.

"She took great care of Mike, and no one can take that away from her. She never complained about having to care for him - - never once," McGonnell said.

McGonnell described Lisa Henry as a passive person who loves her family and worked to give her disabled son the best life possible.

"That is why this is such a big shock," McGonnell said. "I saw her a few weeks ago, and she was smiling and happy," she said. "But I think about how hard things must have been on her. She went through a lot this year," she said.

Lisa Henry is being treated at LakeEast Hospital.

John Henry and the three small children also were treated at the hospital.

The state fire marshal is conducting an investigation into the fire and circumstances surrounding the death of Mike Henry.

Star Beacon Print Edition: 9/14/2006