Henny Scott Death Case – Was Henny Scott Murdered? – Henny Scott, a freshman from Montana’s Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, attended Lame Deer High School. She was only 14 years old back then. According to her mother, Paula Castro, she intended to pursue a career in medicine after graduating from high school. Henny Scott did not return home that evening, and twenty days later, her body was discovered in the snow near her Lame Deer, Montana residence.
Henny Scott was the subject of the Showtime documentary “Murder in Big Horn,” Season 1 Episode 101, which examined the mysterious circumstances surrounding her death and disappearance. Murder in Big Horn, directed by Razelle Benally and Matthew Galkin, will feature interviews and commentary from native Montanans and state officials on the Henny Scott death case. Why don’t we investigate further and gather more information?
Official Synopsis:
“Murder in Big Horn crafts a powerful portrait of tribal members and their communities within Big Horn County, Montana battling an epidemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) that has been prevalent since colonization.
Directed by Razelle Benally and Matthew Galkin, the three-part docuseries examines the circumstances surrounding many of these cases, told solely through the perspectives of those involved: Native families, Native journalists, and local law enforcement officers.”
Showtime describes the show as:
“When three bodies are discovered in Big Horn County, Montana, an area known as ‘the most dangerous place in the country’ for Native American women, local authorities first ignore each death before ruling them accidental – leaving the victims’ loved ones to deal both with their loss and the indifference of local law enforcement. As sorrow turns to outrage, however, a vibrant and fearless movement is formed to search for the truth and bring attention to the epidemic of missing or murdered cases among Native peoples in the US.”.
Who Was Henny Scott and How Did She Die?
Henny Scott, a 14-year-old Northern Cheyenne tribal member, died suddenly. As with most preteens and adolescents, Henny’s relationship with her parents was particularly close. According to those who knew her, she was also a talented basketball player and student with ambitious future goals. Henny was described as vivacious and grounded; however, her penchant for socializing with her friends would prove to be her downfall.
On December 7th, Henny informed her mother that she would work out at the school gym before meeting up with her friends. As soon as Paula discovered that her daughter was at a “party place,” she pleaded with her to return home. When the teen’s loved ones failed to hear from her for several hours, they became concerned. Their fears quickly transformed into panic as they began searching for her in the area. They were so concerned for her safety that they contacted her friends’ families, but all of them returned home except for Henny, who had apparently “walked away” by herself. Eventually, her family reported her missing to the police, despite rumours that they ignored the situation for the first two weeks.
Meanwhile, concerned family members and neighbors have organized search parties to locate Henny. They appealed to the public for assistance, requesting that anyone with information come forward. However, as more time passed without any improvement, her loved ones grew increasingly concerned. On December 27, twenty days later, Henny’s body was discovered in the snow near the “party site,” confirming everyone’s worst fears. After a prompt response from police and transport to an autopsy, it was determined that Henny had succumbed to hypothermia due to prolonged exposure to the cold.
Was Henny Scott Killed or It Was an Accident?
The police independently investigated Henny’s death and determined that it was an accident. The adolescent’s blood alcohol level was consistent with moderate drinking, but he was otherwise healthy. Additionally, it was discovered that the 14-year-old was wearing extremely thin clothing that offered no protection from the freezing temperatures. The police determined that the teen died of accidental hypothermia and not murder after reviewing the evidence.
However, Henny’s family has rejected this theory in favor of the simpler conclusion that she was murdered. According to her parents, she was discovered covered in bruises and wearing clothing that did not belong to her. Due to their faith in her goodness, they were confident that their daughter would never intentionally put herself in danger. Even after the Montana Department of Justice announced that no federal charges would be filed for the murder of Henny, they and the rest of the town continued to beg the police to reopen the investigation.
The government never contacted Henny’s family again, but that did not prevent them from conducting their own investigation. Her parents disregarded Northern Cheyenne Tribal customs by exhuming her body for a second autopsy in hopes that new evidence would shed light on the mystery surrounding her death. The second autopsy concluded that Henny’s fractured nose and other injuries were not the cause of her death.
In fact, the autopsy revealed no indications of insect bites, physical force injuries, sexual assault, or drug use, aside from some postmortem discoloration. As there were no obvious signs of foul play on Henny’s body, even the doctors who performed the autopsy could not determine the cause of the teen’s death. Since this is the case, the authorities are certain that she died of accidental hypothermia, despite her family’s determination to pursue the matter further.
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