California murder suspect arrested after traffic stop on U.S. 287
A traffic stop in Montague County Oct. 30, led to the arrest of a murder suspect out of California.
It appears the arrest of Randolph Winston Henderson, 51, has prompted a convergence of events that has him facing a possible murder charge in San Diego, CA.
Department of Public Safety Trooper Brandon Ward stopped Henderson about 10:30 p.m. Oct. 20, as he was driving along U.S. 287 near the Farm-to-Market Road 174 exit. Running his license, Ward found Henderson was wanted on an identity-theft warrant out of Colorado and he was arrested.
After he was booked into the Montague County Jail, Chief Deputy Jack Lawson said Henderson asked to speak to someone about a killing. Investigator Ethan Romine and Sheriff Marshall Thomas came to the jail to speak to the man.
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“He admitted to a murder that reportedly occurred on Oct. 27 in San Diego. He also had details that were not released to the media, which prompted California law officers to come to Montague. They obtained a murder warrant out of that state. On Wednesday, they were here in town along with the FBI who were processing the vehicle,” explained Lawson.
The San Diego Police Department released the following information about the murder that occurred the evening of Oct. 27:
The 911 center received a call about a deceased male found in the community of Hillcrest.
When officers arrived, they located the man inside of the residence who appears to have visible signs of trauma, later determined to be a stabbing. Steven Tucker was pronounced dead at the scene. San Diego homicide detectives began the investigation.
After Henderson was arrested and based on information he provided to local officers, the San Diego police were contacted and they obtained the warrant. Henderson will be extradited to California.
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Lawson said Henderson has waived extradition and is expected to be transported to California possibly this week.
When Henderson was asked why he killed Tucker, Lawson said he told them he was distributing child pornography.
“He makes his living by fraud and has for years. He has been in federal prison for robbery. Henderson knows it is all going to catch up with him because he has committed fraud all over the country.
“He indicated he would like to stay in one jail and not be bounced around. He also admitted to two other recent possible murders, one in Minnesota and one in north Chicago, but nothing has been confirmed on that as we await information from them about missing persons or unsolved crimes,” concluded Lawson.
Anyone with information about the California crime is asked to call the homicide unit at 619-531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477. Calls also can be made to the sheriff at 894-2871.