The Cat Did It: The Murder of Baby Adaline

Kristopher Henderson beat his 2-month-old daughter to the brink of death on September 23, 2021, while the infant’s mother, Shelby Goodrich, worked. She survived 10-days before succumbing to her injuries.

The Cat Did It

Hours after Shelby left for work, her father, Kristopher Henderson, phoned her saying “something’s wrong.” He then told Shelby he found the family cat, a 19-pound gigantic pet, lying on top of the now unconscious baby.

Shelby rushed home and found Adaline with her eyes “bulged out” of her head. She was unresponsive. After calling her mom for advice, Shelby and Kristopher transported Adaline to a local hospital emergency room. She was immediately transferred to the Mayo Clinic where doctors with more extensive training and expertise could better care for the infant’s traumatic injuries.

Baby Adaline’s Extensive Injuries

Baby Adaline suffered two broken legs, broken ribs, and a brain bleed. The 39-year-old Henderson told hospital staff the same story he told Shelby- the cat laid on top of the infant, causing the injuries.

Police questioned both Shelby and Kristopher. They soon cleared Shelby of wrongdoing but felt Christopher caused the injuries and knew more than he told. He denied causing the injuries and told the police the same cat story he offered up to Shelby as well as to hospital staff.

During subsequent interviews, however, he finally began to break.

He told police that he might have been “a little rough” with Adaline during a diaper change.

During a subsequent interrogation by the police, Henderson told cops he “cradled the child face down in his arms and struck her back more forcefully than usual. He went on to claim, “the alleged assault went on for five minutes and admitted to hitting the victim hard enough to break her ribs.”

Adaline died from her injuries on November 3 at 5 a.m. Doctors determined her death was a homicide caused by “non-accidental trauma.” They told police there is no way a cat could have caused such injuries.

Police charged the Mankato, MN man with second-degree murder without intent while committing a felony and first-degree manslaughter while committing malicious punishment of a child after the infant died from her injuries.

Goodrich Makes a Statement

After Adaline’s death, Goodrich spoke to the Daily Mail:

“She was always a very happy baby. When she learned how to smile she would smile constantly and she was never fussy unless she wanted a bottle, diaper change or some cuddles. She and I would always have cuddle time from 9-11 everyday when I was on maternity leave and my days off. I couldn’t stop looking at her or being by her side when I was able. She was very observant, constantly trying to watch what things were going on around her. She was my world and now my world will forever be a darker place without her. She was loved so much in the short time she was with us and will continue to be.”

Rest East, baby Adaline. You were too perfect for this cruel world.

My condolences to Shelby Goodrich and the rest of the family. Such a tragic, sad story.

My Thoughts

No words left to say about garbage like this that I haven’t said a million times already. Anyone who can hurt an innocent child is garbage, period, and I’m putting that mildly for publication purposes. How can a small, innocent baby make someone so angry? Henderson (and the thousands of other abusers like him) deserve absolutely zero sympathy or pity.

Resources & Additional Case Information:

https://www.waff.com/2021/10/27/child-remains-critical-condition-after-alleged-assault-by-father/

https://nypost.com/2021/11/25/father-charged-with-murdering-baby-after-blaming-cat/