Body-cam shows Phoenix PD response after mom allegedly smothered 3 kids to death

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — New footage released Monday shows police questioning a Phoenix mom who ultimately confessed to murdering her three children.

Rachel Henry was 22 years old when she was arrested four years ago.

Court records say she allegedly sang to her children as she smothered them to death. Her son was three years old, and her daughters were one year old and seven months old.

Officer-worn body cameras captured the moment first responders got the 911 call from a great aunt saying the three kids were found unresponsive at their home near 24th Street and Baseline Road.

“They’re saying the mother put the kids down for a nap with some sort of medication, all under three years old,” said the operator.

First responders arrived at the disturbing scene moments later and tried to save the kids, but it was too late.

“They should be in that house there, right in that trailer,” said one officer as she ran closer to the home.

In one video, Rachel Henry, the children’s mother, could be heard talking to officers.

“What happened?” asked one officer. “I put them down to take a nap and I didn’t check on them and I thought they were sleeping,” Henry said emotionally.

Court documents told another story. Investigators said Henry admitted to smothering her one-year-old daughter, her three-year-old son and her seven-month-old baby girl.

However, in the video of her on the scene, Henry is heard telling officers she had been planning her family’s future.

“I was going to get a job so I could get my own place so the babies would be fine,” she said.

At one point, she seemingly pointed the finger at the children’s dad, who was home with the kids while Henry and an aunt left to get pizza.

“He could never handle the babies, but no one would... I just thought they were sleeping,” she mumbled.

Police say he was the first to realize the kids were dead. “Were you inside at all?” asked one officer. “Me?” the father asked back. “Yeah, I was sleeping,” he answered.

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