Authorities arrested two women in Genoa, Ohio, in connection with the death of a woman found in her apartment in Silver Spring, Maryland, earlier this year. The incident highlights a complex story of trust, tragedy, and the challenges associated with homelessness and mental health.
On May 26, 2026, Montgomery County police responded to a welfare check at the 12th-floor apartment of 77-year-old Hilde Uapingena Henderson in downtown Silver Spring. Henderson’s body was discovered inside, prompting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death. Surveillance footage showed Henderson letting two visitors into the building on May 22—her daughter, Vanessa Tjongarero-Henderson, 29, and Vanessa’s girlfriend, Samantha Raebel, 36. The pair stayed in the apartment for several hours before leaving with items including a blood-stained bedsheet, according to recently unsealed court affidavits.
Authorities have not disclosed specific details regarding a possible weapon or each suspect’s precise role in Henderson’s death. Neither Tjongarero-Henderson nor Raebel has reportedly spoken with investigators. Family members of both suspects declined to comment.
The discovery came after two women in Genoa, Ohio, reported concerns to local police. Lisa Behrman, a resident and custodian at a local church, had recently taken in Tjongarero-Henderson and Raebel, offering them shelter, meals, and support while they sought to regain stability after facing financial hardship. Behrman, who previously experienced homelessness and addiction, described her decision to trust the women as exceptional given declining societal trust levels. Nonetheless, her instincts proved misplaced when inconsistencies in the women’s stories and suspicious behaviors emerged.
Behrman’s friend, also concerned by the guests’ contradictory accounts and their use of delivery services despite claiming poverty, discovered through a cash app transaction that the pair were wanted suspects in Maryland. She alerted Behrman, who promptly contacted 911. Genoa Police Chief Matt Herrig was the first law enforcement officer on the scene and coordinated with neighboring agencies to take the suspects into custody without incident.
Born in Namibia, Henderson immigrated to the Washington area as a refugee, pursued a healthcare career, and raised four children. Vanessa Tjongarero-Henderson had once pursued a promising music career locally but experienced ongoing difficulties. Samantha Raebel, originally from Arizona, worked as an insurance adjuster before relocating to Maryland.
Court documents reveal additional troubling incidents involving Tjongarero-Henderson in the months preceding her mother’s death. Charges for malicious property destruction and assault against a relative were filed but later dismissed due to witnesses not testifying. Attorneys suggested these behaviors might be linked to untreated mental health challenges.
The case underscores the intersections of vulnerability, trust, and the complex social dynamics faced by individuals experiencing hardship. Behrman expressed mixed emotions about the events, reflecting on her efforts to trust and help others despite personal past trauma. The ongoing investigation aims to clarify the facts surrounding Henderson’s death and the roles of the two suspects.