It’s an outcome no family ever wants to face. When Tracy Henman’s relatives couldn’t reach her for a couple of days, they knew something was wrong. Their gut feeling, which prompted a desperate call for a welfare check on Thursday morning, led to the tragic discovery of the 43-year-old woman deceased inside her own northeast Lincoln home. What followed was a swift, but solemn, response from the Lincoln Police Department (LPD) at the multiplex on Deweese Drive, an area just north of 56th and Holdrege streets that has been quieted by the unfolding investigation.
Responding within minutes of the 8 a.m. call, officers entered the residence and found not just Henman, but also a 40-year-old Lincoln man who was known to her. Tracy had sustained visible injuries, and authorities pronounced her deceased right there at the scene. The man was immediately taken into custody and transported to a local hospital for treatment of injuries to his face and neck, and he remains under medical care as the investigation continues.
Assistant Chief Jason Stille provided an update on Friday, working to reassure the community that this appears to be an isolated incident with no ongoing threat to the public.
However, the exact nature of the relationship between Henman and the man in custody remains a key focus for investigators. The suspect’s name won’t be released until he is officially booked into the Lancaster County Jail, a standard department policy. For now, police are operating under the belief that they have the person responsible, with charges currently pending that may be adjusted based on forthcoming evidence.
The LPD’s Criminal Investigations Unit has been working tirelessly to piece together what happened. The entire area saw a heavy police presence on Thursday morning as authorities secured the scene and began the painstaking process of collecting evidence and conducting interviews. A crucial step in the investigation, an autopsy, was scheduled for Saturday, which will provide vital information to help determine the official cause and manner of Tracy Henman’s death, along with a clearer timeline of the incident.
This case tragically marks the sixth homicide investigation for Lincoln in 2025. It’s a sobering statistic, especially considering that three of the previous five involved domestic-related incidents. City officials have been quick to emphasize, once again, the critical need for community awareness and support resources, especially for individuals dealing with dangerous or concerning situations at home. Counselors and advocacy groups in the area have stepped up their reminders that confidential assistance is available through local helplines, shelters, and family support centers.
Right now, law enforcement is diligently reviewing every single piece of information—from findings at the scene to forensic tests and witness interviews—to reconstruct the events leading up to Henman’s death. The police are urging anyone who may have noticed anything unusual in the Deweese Drive area or has relevant information to come forward, either by calling the LPD’s non-emergency line or by reaching out to Crime Stoppers anonymously.
The department has reiterated that this is an ongoing investigation, with further details expected to be shared on Monday as their work through the weekend wraps up. As the community struggles to process this tragic loss, authorities extended their deepest condolences to Tracy Henman’s family and friends, promising to maintain transparency and make community safety their absolute top priority.
