Rampage stuns families

LEHI — Blood gurgled in the throat of 80-year-old Bob Humes as former Lehi police officer Art Henderson reached his side one morning about two weeks ago.

What Henderson did next saved Humes' life. Humes' wife, Violet, is finding it hard to reconcile that act with what police say Henderson did about 48 hours later — shoot his estranged wife's boyfriend three times and fire several bullets at Lehi police officers.

"We owe him a debt of gratitude," Violet Humes said. "When I finally put two and two together after seeing the news, I couldn't believe it. He was very nice. He must have just snapped."

Henderson's family is struggling to square its own memories of him as a decorated cop and tender father with the events of Jan. 27, the day of the violent rampage that ended when officers took Henderson down with shots to the knees and foot.

A series of interviews with Henderson's brothers and sisters and his estranged wife, Natalie Barnes Henderson, reveal new details about a troubled man battling depression and an addiction to painkillers as he despaired over the loss of his job and marriage.

"There are several things leading up to this that changed the way he used to be," says Annie Martin, one of Henderson's sisters.

Humes may be 80, but he is a veteran logger who built a log home at 65. Henderson was watching from the nearby porch of Brandon Wycherley's home, waiting for his friend to open the door, when a tree branch struck Humes and fell on top of him.

"Art was afraid to move (Humes') head because he was afraid his neck was hurt, but he couldn't lift the log, and Bob was choking to death," Wycherley says. "So he turned his head to the side and got the blood out so he could breathe."

Henderson had someone call an ambulance, then went back to Humes' side.

Violet Humes says Henderson told her he said a prayer for strength, then lifted the branch off Humes.

Doctors thought they might have to operate to relieve pressure from the bleeding in Humes' brain, but it subsided. Humes took 40 stitches to his head and had his shoulder knocked out of joint, but he is home recovering.

"It was just a miracle Art was there," Violet Humes said. "I have a lot to thank him for."