Rachel Henry is the mother who murdered her three young children in January 2020 and was sentenced to life in prison.

When did the murders of Rachel Henry's children occur?

The murders of Rachel Henry's three children occurred in January 2020.

What was Rachel Henry's sentence for murdering her children?

Rachel Henry was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murders of her three children.

Home / Crime and Justice / Mom Sings Lullabies While Murdering Her 3 Young Children

Mom Sings Lullabies While Murdering Her 3 Young Children

28 Nov

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Summary

Rachel Henry smothered her three young children to death.
She sang lullabies to drown out their cries during the attacks.
Henry confessed and received a life sentence for the murders.

Mom Sings Lullabies While Murdering Her 3 Young Children

In a shocking case, Rachel Henry was sentenced to life in prison for the murders of her three young children: Zane, 3; Maraya, 2; and 7-month-old Catalaya. The horrific acts occurred in January 2020 after the family moved to Arizona and faced homelessness. Henry confessed to smothering each child, using the song "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" to mask their struggles.

Pedro Rios, the children's father, was present during some of the attacks but remained unaware of the tragedy, even napping with the deceased children. Henry's confession detailed how she intentionally obstructed the children's breathing until they stopped moving, then staged their deaths as sleep.

Henry was arrested shortly after the discovery of the children's bodies, made by their great-grandmother via video call. Following a plea deal to avoid the death penalty, she pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree murder and received her sentence in February 2025.