ROSWELL, Ga. — The family of a murdered Roswell teen brought lunch to the officers who helped solve the case.
It's been nearly a year since Natalie Henderson and Carter Davis were killed.
Channel 2's Mike Petchenik was there for an emotional reunion Thursday afternoon at the Roswell Police Department.
Roswell Police Chief Rusty Grant told Petchenik that the case had a major effect on his officers and the community.
The family of one of those murdered teens let those officers know Thursday they appreciate their hard work. The Hendersons sent a food truck from The Varsity to the police station to give all of the officers a free lunch as a thank you.
Natalie Henderson’s younger sister, Rachael, also addressed officers who worked the tough case.
"We can't thank you all enough," Henderson told the officers. "We know you worked around the clock without sleep, without spending time with your families in order to make an arrest and help our family and the Davis family."
Within 40 hours of Henderson and boyfriend Carter Davis' murders, police captured now admitted killer Jeffrey Hazelwood.
Eight months later, he pleaded guilty and a judge sentenced him to two life terms in prison.
"We can't thank you all enough for the times you came to our home to talk to us, answer our questions, and help us understand the process," Henderson told the officers.
"It was a crime that affected everyone in Roswell," Grant told Petchenik.
Grant said everyone banded together to bring the families justice.
"There was a bond between all of us and it was just a sad situation," Grant said.
He said his department was touched by the Henderson family's gratitude.
"We're all smiling and appreciating each other, but we all realize the underlying event that created this and how sad that was," Grant said.
Experts said Hazelwood had severe mental illness.
Grant told Petchenik that he wishes he had a solution to that problem, which could have prevented these murders in the first place.
RELATED STORIES:
- Balloons float in place of murdered teen at high school graduation
- Judge reflects on 'tough' case of Roswell teens' murder
- Man to spend life in prison after killing Roswell teens
- Suspect in Roswell teens' killings pleads not guilty
- EXCLUSIVE: Police used GBI database to identify suspect in Roswell teen murders
- Medical examiner releases report on Roswell teens
- Thousands raised for animal group in memory of murdered teen
- Grandfather of suspect in Roswell killings: 'Our hearts are broken'
- Chief: Suspect used victim's credit card after killings
- Teens found dead behind Roswell Publix were shot
- Friends, family remember teens killed behind Roswell Publix
Cox Media Group