Murder of Girly Chew Hossencofft

On the morning of September 10, 1999, Girly Chew failed to show up for work. Her co-workers immediately became concerned about Girly's welfare and reported her missing that day.[2] Diazien Hossencofft was the prime suspect in the investigation, but he had left for Charleston, South Carolina, that very day.[1] Investigators then focused their attention on Girly Chew's apartment and Diazien Hossencofft's girlfriend, Linda Henning. Inside Girly's apartment, the investigators noticed the smell of bleach.[5] Using luminol, they found considerable blood evidence.

Following the search of Girly Chew's apartment, police questioned Henning, who appeared as a personal reference of Diazien. In her interview, she claimed that she believed that Diazien was an accomplished doctor and that she had no knowledge of Girly Chew's disappearance.[1][5] She later stated to an investigative grand jury that she did not even know Diazien's missing wife, but police were able to prove that she was lying. Investigators showed that Linda had banked at the branch where Girly worked, and that Girly had been Linda's teller on at least one occasion. Linda Henning was charged with perjury for lying to the grand jury in October 1999.[1]

In Henning's home, investigators recovered a ninja sword in her attic, which was purchased on the morning of Girly's murder.[4] Days after Girly Chew's disappearance, her clothing was found on a tarpaulin in Belen, New Mexico. Along with Girly's clothing, investigators discovered a piece of duct tape with Linda Henning's hair attached.[1] She and Diazien Hossencofft were indicted and charged with murder.

In January 2002, in an effort to avoid the death penalty, Diazien Hossencofft pleaded guilty to the murder of his wife.[1] In exchange for his plea bargain, he was sentenced to life in prison plus 61 years to be served in Wyoming State Penitentiary.[4]

Linda Henning's murder trial began in September 2002, more than three years after Girly Chew's disappearance. The trial was later televised on CourtTV. She was the first woman in New Mexico history to face capital punishment. Linda's friends believed that she had been brainwashed and drugged by Diazien.[2] Onlookers noted Linda's strange actions as forensic investigators testified for the prosecution.[5]

During the trial, Linda Henning's attorneys Gary Mitchell and Monica Baca called Diazien Hossencofft to testify in Linda's defense. On the stand, he proclaimed that he had masterminded the murder of his wife and that Linda Henning was completely innocent.[7] He claimed that a man named Bill Miller was Girly Chew's true killer, and not Linda Henning as prosecutors had theorized. Bill Miller was charged in the investigation but only with five counts of tampering with evidence.[5]

Regarding Linda Henning's blood found in Girly's apartment, Diazien had claimed that he planted her blood there. Although Diazien testified that he planted Henning's blood in an effort to confuse investigators, Henning's attorney claimed Diazien meant to frame Henning for the crime.[7]

On October 25, 2002, Linda Henning was found guilty of first degree murder. She was also convicted of kidnapping, conspiracy to kidnap, tampering with evidence, and four counts of perjury. Due to the special circumstances of felony murder and kidnapping, Linda faced the death penalty.[1]

Linda Henning's sentencing was held on April 18, 2003.[1] Before her sentencing date, prosecutor Paul Spiers wrote in his presentence investigation report that Linda Henning "had made statements that she had actually consumed the flesh of Girly Chew and that, as a consequence, her remains and body would never be recovered by authorities."[3] Despite the allegation, Linda was not given a death sentence. Instead, she was sentenced to 73 years in prison.[1]

For his role in the crime, Bill Miller received one year of probation.[5]

Albuquerque television journalist Mark Horner wrote and published a book in 2004 about the murder of Girly Chew, entitled September Sacrifice.[8]

In 2010, Linda Henning's perjury convictions were overturned by the New Mexico Supreme Court; however, all of her other convictions and her sentence were affirmed.[9]

The story of Girly Chew's murder has been televised on Crime Stories, Court TV, American Justice, Snapped, and Sins and Secrets, among other programs. Additionally, this story was covered by NBC's Dateline in 2003.

In January 2020, Diazien Hossencofft made a request to a judge to vacate his life sentence, claiming that prosecutors and police colluded to hide evidence that would have exonerated both him and Linda Henning. In a statement to Judge Alisa Hart, Hossencofft's attorney asked for a six-month extension to collect evidence involving "global connections", which was granted.[10]

• List of solved missing person cases