Philomen L. Henry, a 30-year-old female of Trinidadian heritage, was a vibrant mother of two with a smile that was a constant source of light for her family and friends. Known affectionately as 'Toy-Toy,' a nickname given to her by her great-grandmother, she had a passion for life that was evident in her love for cooking and year-round barbecues, where she would fill the air with music and the aroma of her popular curry chicken.
Born in Brooklyn, she moved with her family to the Capital Region at the age of 10 and eventually settled in Schenectady. A dedicated mother to her son, Ahsef, and daughter, Lily-Ann, she was deeply involved in their lives, from taking them to school to helping with homework and cheering at football games.
On May 22, 2023, the bright future Philomen envisioned was tragically cut short when police, responding to a welfare check, discovered her body inside her Mont Pleasant apartment on Crane Street. She had been fatally shot, marking Schenectady's first homicide of the year. Just the day before, she had posted on social media about looking forward to what life had in store, a poignant final message from a life taken too soon.
The investigation into her death quickly focused on her live-in boyfriend, Bernard L. Alexander. Relatives described a relationship that was known to be tumultuous. After the shooting, Alexander fled the area and began living under an assumed name in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Through a tip from Henry's family, federal marshals were able to locate and apprehend him in August 2023.
Alexander was subsequently indicted on charges of second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon. In February 2025, he pleaded guilty to the murder charge. Despite a later attempt to withdraw his plea, a judge sentenced the 42-year-old to 20 years to life in prison. During the sentencing, where he offered a 'half-hearted' apology, the courtroom was filled with Philomen's loved ones who came to honor her memory. The investigation had revealed a history of domestic violence in their relationship, with Alexander having previously been imprisoned for violating an order of protection against her. On the morning of her death, a physical altercation between the couple escalated, ending with Alexander shooting her multiple times.
