Crime & Safety
New Evidence in 1976 Murder of Cedar Falls Man?
A 36-year-old case is being revived as possible new evidence is revealed in the 1976 shooting death of a Cedar Falls man.
A murder case more than three decades old has been revived based on claims of new evidence.
James "D.A." Henderson-El of Waterloo was convicted of first degree murder in the shooting-death of Robert James Streeter of Cedar Falls in 1975. Henderson-El was sentenced to life in prison.
The case is now being appealed in Black Hawk County Court.
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The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reported:
On Wednesday, Henderson-El's sister-in-law, Rita Henderson, took the stand in Black Hawk County District Court and said her husband, Merc Earl Henderson, told her the gun fired accidently when he tried to grab it.
Find out what's happening in Cedar Fallsfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The Courier reported Merc Henderson was incapacitated in an accident and cannot testify, so the appeal faces steep obstacles. District Court Judge Todd Greer will review the case and rule on if a new trial can be called.
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