‘They Were Sick’: Shocking Video Reveals Accused Killer Rachel Henry’s Initial Statements to Police After Allegedly Murdering Her Children

The harrowing case of Rachel Henry, who allegedly confessed to smothering her three young children, has been thrust into the public eye following the release of police body camera footage. Henry faces charges of first-degree murder and potential death penalty.

PHOENIX — Phoenix police have made public the initial response footage from January 2020, where three children, all under the age of four, were found dead. The chilling videos were captured from multiple officers’ perspectives as they arrived at the scene on January 20, 2020.

The tragic discovery followed a distressing 911 call from Pearla Rebolledo, the children’s great aunt, who implored dispatchers to send help urgently. “Please hurry! Please hurry! They’re all dead. All three babies are dead!” she cried. On arrival, first responders found the lifeless bodies of Zane, Mireya, and Catalaya.

The released footage also captured Henry in a state of hysteria, screaming and crying outside her home. Initially, she claimed her children had been sick, and she had given them ibuprofen before putting them to bed. This was roughly around 2 p.m.

Later that evening, Henry, along with Rebolledo, stepped out to get pizza while Pedro Rios, the children’s father, stayed behind. On their return, a frantic Rios was desperately seeking help after being unable to wake the children. “They fell asleep watching a movie and their dad came home, and he was laying on the couch. I told him to watch them,” Henry told police.

Once at the police station, Henry shared with officers about her past struggles with marijuana and meth addiction, expressing a desire for a fresh start. “I just am asking the Lord for forgiveness so I can move on and start over and start fresh and forgive myself,” she pleaded.

However, Rebolledo raised concerns about Henry’s erratic behavior, which she believed could have tragic consequences. “The girl is weird,” Rebolledo remarked to police. “I’m afraid we’re gonna come home one day and find her drowning the kids in the tub or something.”

Henry was eventually separated from her relatives and taken to the police station for further questioning. Though the video of her formal interview wasn’t released, it is known that she was soon placed in handcuffs and detained. Records later revealed that Henry’s initial account strayed far from the disturbing reality. She eventually confessed to smothering her children.

The grim details of the killings emerged, revealing that the 1-year-old girl kicked while being smothered and the 3-year-old boy shouted “no” in a desperate attempt to save his sibling. The boy even tried to punch Henry but was overpowered. Henry allegedly continued her brutal act, chasing Zane around the room. Ultimately, she smothered each child while singing nursery rhymes, only stopping when the aunt and father returned home.

Henry now faces three counts of first-degree murder with prosecutors seeking the death penalty. Despite her grim confession, she has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to stand trial in March 2025.