ARUNDEL, Maine — Candles were lit, words of sorrow were shared and tears were shed Saturday evening as about 15 people — family members and friends of the family — gathered to remember a 2 1/2-month-old infant who died tragically earlier this month.
As those gathered spoke about the short life and too-soon death of Ethan Henderson, they let loose into the air a child’s helium balloon. The balloon had been signed by those attending the vigil.
Henderson was injured May 6 and had been at Maine Medical Center in Portland. He died Tuesday at the hospital after being taken off life support.
The boy’s father, Gordon Collins-Faunce, 23, of Arundel, has been charged in connection with the death.
On Saturday, friends and family spoke about how special Henderson was and how much he will be missed.
“There will not be a second that goes by that we do not think about him,” said Ethan’s mother, Christina Henderson, who called him her “cuddle bug.”
“He will be missed forever,” she said.
“Every day, he lit up our world,” said Ethan’s step-grandmother, Debra White.
She is married to Dana White, Collins-Faunce’s biological father, who also attended Saturday’s vigil and said he will miss his grandson.
“We wish we could hold him one more time. To see that beautiful smile he had,” said Amy Laverdiere, Christina Henderson’s sister. “He never got to take his first steps, never got to say ‘mommy,’ never got to celebrate his first Christmas, his first birthday.”
“He’s where he needs to be now, even though it hurts,” said Fonnie Hunt, another of Christina Henderson’s sisters.
In addition, said Debra White, “His death will not have been in vain. Hopefully, a parent will see this and get help if they need it.”
According to a police affidavit, Collins-Faunce told police he injured his son when he picked him up by the head and threw him into a living room chair, snapping his head back.
Before the injury that caused his son’s death, Collins-Faunce said in the police interview that he felt “overwhelmed,” and that he was “losing control” taking care of Ethan and Ethan’s twin brother, Lucas.
That was not the first time Collins-Faunce injured Ethan, according to court documents. He said he caused a hairline fracture in Ethan’s arm in March, according to the police affidavit.
Collins-Faunce is being held on $100,000 cash bail on charges of depraved indifference murder, elevated aggravated assault and assault in connection with his Ethan’s death.
Journal Tribune writer Jeff Lagasse contributed to this story.
To see more from the Journal Tribune, visit journaltribune.com.
“He’s where he needs to be now, even though it hurts,” said Fonnie Hunt, another of Christina Henderson’s sisters.
Pitiful. No, he’s not where he needs to be! He needed to be with a loving family that had half a brain and would have protected him from the monster that killed him.
The mother said on TV that she’s glad he’s no longer suffering. Suffering?!? She could have stopped it BEFORE he wound up dead by being a MOTHER.
Maine trailer trash at it’s finest…or worst…
Agree! Keep in mind the other two kids have not been returned to their “mothers” care. That should tell us all something.
Amen!
After this “lack” of a man broke this child’s arm — why in God’s name did the mother allow him to be alone with the children. This makes no sense to me, the child was only 2 1/2 months old — he broke your babies arm — someone should have woken up and not played the denial card about what this A** was capable of doing.
As crazy as it sounds, there are a lot of women who fear being alone more than for their child’s safety.
If it were me, I’d still lose my kids, because I’d be jail for murdering the SOB for hurting my child like that. I don’t care how scared I was of the man, he’d be LONG GONE for hurting my child. Mama bear should come out in any GOOD mother when their child is hurt by the hand of another person!
The poor kid didn’t have a chance. No matter what the circumstances of birth, he deserved that chance.
Irrelaphant as it may be, I’m still confused with all the surnames and the tawdry bloodline though…
Did the mother even care?
Confused about what?
NO SHE DID NOT CARE
The blantant lack of concern shown by the mother is unreal…I hope her other children are going to stay in homes where they are loved and PROTECTED — obviously this woman isn’t capable of practicing the bare basics of being a mother — PROTECTING and NURTURING!
I am so sorry for your loss. Love, hugs and prayers for all.
When I saw this on the news I had a very hard time being sympathetic to the mother. She allowed this to happen. She knew what was going on and did nothing. In my mind that makes her just as guilty as the father.
I will never understand why people say ignorant things like ” they are in a better place”, when a child is killed!! Wouldn’t a better place have been to be able to grow up and have a life? A better place might have been if someone, anyone, had been smart enough to get this baby away from the demented man that abused and killed him! It just makes your heart sick to even think of this being done to a tiny little baby!
YES ID WOILD HAVE IF THE STATE STEPPED IN WHEN FIRST REPORTED AL MOST A YEAR AGO WITH THE LITTLE GIRL NEVEAYA (SP)
Poor baby Ethan this did not have to happen! We think of him everyday! I do not understand why his family didnt do everything in ther power to make sure he was safe! I have 3 little boys and this just kills me cuz I just dont get how people can let things like this happen! The poor baby had his arm broke at 4 weeks and no 1 did anything! Then the Monster that did it was still around him and his brother and sister! I can tell you if this happened in my family My brothers baby sisters baby grandchild ect I would have done everything in my power to make sure the kids wer safe! Babys dont ask to be born! YOU have them so take care of them! No hes not going to have his first birthday, first step, Christmas, and have a loving family that was taken from him! No 1 should ever take that from a child! I dont know whats wrong with people! I think they should put that man in a room with about 12-15 daddys and lock the door! I hope that this woman they call a mother dont get her kids back she let this happen She didnt stop it! Your job as a parent is to PROTECT your children not let any1 hurt them!!!! I know she didnt do it but… If she would have stood up for her children And she knew! Just from when he broke Ethans arm! This would not have happened so its just as much her falt!!! I was told a few more storys but I dont know how true they are but it just makes me SICK! Im so sorry this happened to you baby Ethan you are in our thoughts and prayers! God bless you!
It is time for charges to be brought against the Mother. She
pretty much gave the ok for father to keep treating their son like a rag doll! They both are nothing but trash!
Christina Henderson should be behind bars not blowing up the news and papers with ignorant statements and releasing balloons…neglect, child endangerment come to mind. Its funny in Maine you need a license to breed puppies but anyone can be a parent…may she be saddled with this guilt for life.
I hope and pray that the other children have been removed from the mother’s care. She didn’t protect him the first time he was hurt and look what happened. She doesn’t deserve to own a dog, let alone a child. How could she let the father take care of him knowing what he already had done, how could the state or the law? Amazing!!!!!!
So sorry for this family’s loss… I also noticed something eerie in this story…Collins-Faunce says he caused a hairline fracture to Ethan’s arm in March and a few weeks later this boy was murdered by him. Yes I know some will say this was an accident but when you lift a child by their head and throw them that is intentional, anyway didn’t Justin Dipitro cause a hairline fracture to Ayla’s arm before she disappeared?….very eerie. Unfortunately the Reynold’s family has no closure yet and as hard as a child’s death is to understand it does not ease the pain of death of a precious life. The death of Ethan, the missing Ayla and the child being abused as I write this (as we seem to hear about at least 1 every day) is time for everyone to stand up and say ENOUGH … Stop being scared about getting involved with your neighbors business if you feel you can help a beautiful soul to live a happy, healthy and long life. Our children need to be loved and nurtured not beaten and murdered.
anyone who has concerns for the safety of a child should make a CPS report, you can be announomous, 24/7 hotline 1-800-452-1999. Don’t be afraid to get involved, don’t be left saying or thinking I should have done something….if you feel a child is being abused or neglected pick up the phone, CPS will investigate it, maybe your wrong about it or maybe making the call will save a childs life.
This is what everyone in this country is pushing, dead beat parents. The more kids you have and the more of a dirt bag you are the more money you get for doin nothing. god bless the usa.
I have a great deal of sympathy for this family. But apparently they knew Ethan’s dad hurt him back in March. Why was this baby left in the care of that man? He already proved he was dangerous. I hope in the future prosecutors will charge parents with child endangerment if tragedy results from leaving them with abusive adults.
tragic? more like murder
When I see this story, I think more about the Child Welfare system that so obviously failed him then I do about anything else. This baby had a broken arm when it died. That should have triggered a Legally Mandated report to CES by the treating doctor that should have led to an automatic home visit and investigation by the State. I’d like to have an explanation about where that broke down. Then I’d like to see some criminal charges.
Yes I agree with and have been thinking the same thing. The hospital/doctor that treated this baby when his arm was broken, should have made a CPS report, admitted the baby to the hospital for observations until the CPS worker came to investigate. I dont’ understand I think our hospital staff needs some Mandated Reporter Training!!
QUOTE:
“According to a police affidavit, Collins-Faunce told police he injured his son when he picked him up by the head and threw him into a living room chair, snapping his head back.”
Where’s Dexter Morgan when you need him?
Be with God sweet child.
How can anyone hurt a baby???? Makes me sick makes me angry. Rest in Peace little one.
Now you Mothers whom allow this to happen Wake Up for Gods sake protect your babies, take them away from danger anyway you can. We have a generation of people breeding that have no idea of parental nurturing at all. Babies they are hurting and killing their own babies.