The scene is set, 1990s Charlotte: a city divided by racial tension, rampant gang violence and a crack epidemic that brought the murder count to new heights. But, beneath the surface lurked an even greater threat. A monster by the name of Henry Louis Wallace was stalking his prey and murdering at will: his target – ten young African American women. For the first time ever, Investigation Discovery (ID), America’s leading destination for true-crime programming, reveals the story of ‘Bad’ Henry Louis Wallace, one of the country’s most notorious serial killers. Featuring never-before-heard interrogation tapes and tales of devastation from those left behind, BAD HENRY is the story of how Detective Garry McFadden, the only African American on the homicide squad at the time, and his determined team at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg police department apprehended this diabolical killer. BAD HENRY will premiere on Investigation Discovery with a two-hour special on Tuesday, July 24 at 9PM ET/PT.
“The complete story of Henry Louis Wallace and the panic he unleashed in the city of Charlotte has never been told on television before,” says Henry Schleiff, Group President of Investigation Discovery, Travel Channel, Destination America and American Heroes Channel. “‘Bad Henry’ showcases the fearless tenacity of Garry McFadden and his team in their efforts to capture this killer, providing justice, and most importantly, closure to the victims and their families.”
By 1994 widespread violence, drugs and murder reached pandemic levels in the city of Charlotte. The city was caught in the grips of the crack epidemic, and homicides were on the rise with no end in sight. An overwhelmed Charlotte-Mecklenburg police department, with only nine homicide detectives on the force, faced an insurmountable workload and not enough hours in the day to solve these cases. But, eventually, a startling pattern emerged. Young, African American women were being found raped and strangled to death across the city. The crime scenes were different; the victims had no apparent relation; and the deaths were scattered both in time and location; but, could there be a connection?
Enter former detective Garry McFadden and the steadfast homicide team of Charlotte- Mecklenburg county. As more victims were found and the clues became scarce, he and the team would not rest until the murderer was found. With one partial print and a grainy photograph, officers were able connect the dots and apprehend Henry Louis Wallace in association with the murders. For the first time ever, viewers will hear the actual interrogation footage of this ruthless killer, who calmly recounted the horrific murders of his victims. Wallace describes to detectives in vivid detail the ‘hows’ and ‘whys’ of his murder spree; claiming he would often visit victims’ families, sometimes at their funerals, to offer condolences and support. Most importantly, BAD HENRY connects with the family members of the victims who candidly reveal the emotional turmoil they had to endure during Wallace’s two-year reign of terror. The relief they gained when they knew the killer had been captured, and justice served, not only provided closure to those involved, but to a city that has never been the same since.
Watch the trailer below.
