BALTIMORE, MD – A Maryland man has been handed a 40-year prison sentence for the brutal murder of a woman whose lifeless body was discovered by a middle school student the morning after the assault.

Clarence Henson, 58, received the sentence on Thursday for the murder of 37-year-old Audra Pineda. According to court records, Henson had pleaded guilty to second-degree murder last month.

Authorities stated that the crime occurred on the evening of January 30, 2023. Surveillance footage from Lansdowne Middle School captured Henson and Pineda together behind the school that night. The following morning, a student’s horrifying discovery revealed Pineda’s body, which the medical examiner later determined had suffered multiple blunt force injuries and strangulation.

The severity of the attack was underscored by reports that nearly every bone in Pineda’s face had been shattered. Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Fuller emphasized the predatory nature of the crime, describing Henson’s actions as he lured Pineda, who was battling addiction, behind the school and subjected her to a fatal beating.

The shocking discovery of Pineda’s bloodied body by a 13-year-old student led to immediate lockdown measures at the school, stunning students, parents, and staff. One parent recounted the distress of receiving a call from her daughter amidst the confusion and concern that enveloped the school community.

Police quickly identified Henson as a suspect. He turned himself in after recognizing himself in news reports linked to the homicide.

In court, Henson expressed remorse and attributed his actions to substance abuse exacerbated by grief over his daughter’s murder in 2022. “I remember getting high, and I was drinking. That’s all I remember. I don’t remember hurting her,” he stated, indicating a lack of recollection of the events.

Authorities and community members hope the harsh sentence will bring a measure of justice for Pineda and her family while also highlighting the tragic consequences of substance abuse and violence.