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Charges filed in collision that killed former Seneca resident

By Greg Bebermeyer/AP

03/24/2021

Steven Arlen Henry

(KMZA)--Charges have been filed in connection with a fatal collision last week in Emporia that claimed the life of a former Seneca resident.

23-year-old Devawn Mitchell, of Emporia, made his first appearance in court Monday on a charge of first-degree murder and more than twenty-five other counts. He's being held in the Lyon County Dention Center on a $1 million bond.

Police say 64-year-old Steven Henry was driving a pickup truck last Thursday when it was struck in the rear by a vehicle driven by Mitchell while he was trying to flee from police. Henry's pickup went airborne and hit a power pole. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police say the pursuit began after Mitchell swerved in the direction of a patrol car, forcing the officer to evade a collision. Police had called off two pursuits because he was speeding and running stop lights before he eventually hit Henry's pickup.

Henry grew up in Seneca, where he was a multiple-sport star in school. He then went on to Emporia State University where he was a football and track standout. Henry also played several years in the National Football League.

Among survivors are his wife, Becky, and three children. Also surviving are his parents, Arlen and Laverne Henry, of Seneca.

He worked at the Wolf Creek Nuclear Generating Station for over 30 years before retirng in 2017.