Charges dropped in death of woman who was dragged

Murder charges have been dropped against a Detroit man charged in connection with the death of a 57-year-old woman who was seen in a viral video being dragged and left on a sidewalk in broad daylight last week.

Homicide charges against Rudolph Lawton Henderson, 43, were dropped by 36th District Court Judge Lydia Nance Adams earlier this week.

The charges were dismissed without prejudice against Henderson, who reportedly is homeless, following a request by the prosecutor’s office in the “best interest of justice.”

Maria Miller, a spokeswoman for the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, said Thursday: “After Mr. Henderson was charged there was video evidence that the police discovered and brought to our attention. That evidence showed that Mr. Henderson was not the perpetrator. As a result, we dismissed the case.”

Henderson was charged a week ago with first-degree murder in the death of Annetta Nelson, who was dragged and left in the middle of a west-side sidewalk in broad daylight in the area of Winthrop and Plymouth around 4:25 p.m. Feb. 26.

Henderson allegedly flagged down police and one of the officers noticed Nelson was lying on the sidewalk unconscious and not breathing. Medics were called to the scene and the woman was pronounced dead.

The Wayne County Medical Examiner’s Office has ruled Nelson’s death a homicide from strangulation.

In the video, a man is seen dragging Nelson, who is partially clothed, down the steps from a home in the area and placing her body on the sidewalk and then coming back shortly and dragging her again down the street.

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