Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
James Henry, the man who stabbed and killed a beloved dog at an Asheville park in June 2023, was shot and killed in Morganton last month. Henry was homeless at the time of his death, an arrest warrant shows. People who knew Henry said he struggled with severe mental illness, alcohol addiction, and homelessness for decades. His death prompts renewed questions about how to prevent people with complex mental health and substance use challenges from repeatedly cycling through the criminal justice system.
Henry pleaded guilty in 2023 to animal cruelty for killing Beignet, a mixed-breed dog, at Weaver Park. Before entering his plea, he was sent to Broughton Hospital after being found incapable of standing trial because of his mental condition. Months later, after treatment, he pleaded guilty. By then, he had already served the maximum sentence required in the case and was released.
Michael Casterline, Henry's defense attorney, said his client struggled with severe mental illness for years.
"I knew he was someone who was always struggling," he said.
Casterline said Henry should not be defined solely by the crime.
"He wasn't a monster. He was a human being with persistent severe mental illness," he said.
News 13 reviewed Henry's criminal history, which spans decades and includes numerous misdemeanor charges, a number of which were resolved through guilty pleas. Court records include offenses such as communicating threats, second-degree trespassing, drug possession and intoxicated and disruptive behavior.
News 13 also found Henry was arrested in Asheville this March on a second-degree trespassing charge. Casterline said mental illness can make stability difficult, even with treatment.
"People with severe persistent mental illness some days function pretty well with medication. Some days they don't. I think Broughton had developed a re-entry plan for him," Casterline said.
Asked whether the system is failing people with severe mental illness who are homeless, Casterline said many unhoused people are repeatedly arrested for conduct that is closely tied to their circumstances.
"A lot of people who are unhoused are arrested repeatedly for things that wouldn't be a crime for most people."
Casterline said expanding permanent supportive housing with on-site services could reduce repeated contact with law enforcement. Such programs can cost tens of millions of dollars, which local municipalities don’t have.
"I think we have a need for more things like Compass Pointe permanent supportive housing. It's more of a harm reduction than a cure-all, but for people who do get permanent supportive housing, it does seem it reduces interaction with the criminal justice system," Casterline said.
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WLOS ABC 13 News serves the Asheville, NC area and the rest of western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina. We keep our audience informed through local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, notices of community events, sports and entertainment programming since 1954.
This video and all Sinclair Broadcast Group content archives of local news and sports coverage are available for your use. For more information contact us at contentsales@sbgtv.com
James Henry, the man who stabbed and killed a beloved dog at an Asheville park in June 2023, was shot and killed in Morganton last month. Henry was homeless at the time of his death, an arrest warrant shows. People who knew Henry said he struggled with severe mental illness, alcohol addiction, and homelessness for decades. His death prompts renewed questions about how to prevent people with complex mental health and substance use challenges from repeatedly cycling through the criminal justice system.
Henry pleaded guilty in 2023 to animal cruelty for killing Beignet, a mixed-breed dog, at Weaver Park. Before entering his plea, he was sent to Broughton Hospital after being found incapable of standing trial because of his mental condition. Months later, after treatment, he pleaded guilty. By then, he had already served the maximum sentence required in the case and was released.
Michael Casterline, Henry's defense attorney, said his client struggled with severe mental illness for years.
"I knew he was someone who was always struggling," he said.
Casterline said Henry should not be defined solely by the crime.
"He wasn't a monster. He was a human being with persistent severe mental illness," he said.
News 13 reviewed Henry's criminal history, which spans decades and includes numerous misdemeanor charges, a number of which were resolved through guilty pleas. Court records include offenses such as communicating threats, second-degree trespassing, drug possession and intoxicated and disruptive behavior.
News 13 also found Henry was arrested in Asheville this March on a second-degree trespassing charge. Casterline said mental illness can make stability difficult, even with treatment.
"People with severe persistent mental illness some days function pretty well with medication. Some days they don't. I think Broughton had developed a re-entry plan for him," Casterline said.
Asked whether the system is failing people with severe mental illness who are homeless, Casterline said many unhoused people are repeatedly arrested for conduct that is closely tied to their circumstances.
"A lot of people who are unhoused are arrested repeatedly for things that wouldn't be a crime for most people."
Casterline said expanding permanent supportive housing with on-site services could reduce repeated contact with law enforcement. Such programs can cost tens of millions of dollars, which local municipalities don’t have.
"I think we have a need for more things like Compass Pointe permanent supportive housing. It's more of a harm reduction than a cure-all, but for people who do get permanent supportive housing, it does seem it reduces interaction with the criminal justice system," Casterline said.
wlos.com/news/local/james-henry-asheville-dog-stabbing-mental-health-criminal-justice-system-michael-casterline-defense-attorney
#crime #asheville #news
_______________
Follow WLOS on social media:
WLOS ABC 13 News on Facebook: facebook.com/News13
WLOS ABC 13 News on X: https://x.com/WLOS_13
WLOS ABC 13 News on Instagram: instagram.com/wlos_13
Subscribe to WLOS on YouTube: youtube.com/user/ABC13Channel/?sub_confirmation=1
For all of the day’s top local and national news, visit wlos.com
Stream our newscasts LIVE: wlos.com/watch
Have a news tip? Send it directly to us:
Email us: news@wlos.com
Call the Newsroom: 828.684.1340
--
WLOS ABC 13 News serves the Asheville, NC area and the rest of western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina. We keep our audience informed through local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, notices of community events, sports and entertainment programming since 1954.
This video and all Sinclair Broadcast Group content archives of local news and sports coverage are available for your use. For more information contact us at contentsales@sbgtv.com
