In the quiet of a September night in 2010, the lives of two people were tragically cut short in a violent outburst of jealousy and rage. Derek K. Henry, a 36-year-old man from Danielsville, Pennsylvania, was shot and killed alongside his 22-year-old companion, Candice M. Shuey. The couple was found inside Henry's home on Route 946 in Lehigh Township, both victims of a brutal act of gun violence that stemmed from a past relationship.
The tranquility of the area was shattered on September
22, 2010, when authorities discovered the bodies of Henry and Shuey. The investigation quickly pointed to one individual: Barry Soldridge Jr., Candice Shuey's ex-boyfriend. It became evident that Soldridge had been unable to accept the end of his relationship with Shuey and her new romance with Henry. This festering resentment culminated in a deadly confrontation.
In the time leading up to the murders, friends and family of Candice Shuey noted that she and Derek Henry were trying to build a life together but were constantly looking over their shoulders. Soldridge's menacing presence loomed over their new beginning, as he would frequently and unexpectedly appear at the same locations as the couple. The fear they lived with became a tragic reality on that fateful night.
The legal proceedings that followed brought the painful details of the case to light. Barry Soldridge Jr. was arrested and charged with the murders of Derek Henry and Candice Shuey. In October 2014, to avoid the death penalty, Soldridge entered into a plea agreement. He was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences in prison, ensuring he would never again pose a threat to the community. For the families of Derek Henry and Candice Shuey, the conviction brought a measure of justice, but the profound loss of their loved ones remains a permanent scar.
