Tennessee Man Charged After Bringing Mother's Tarp-Wrapped Body To Hospital

A Tennessee man is facing several charges after he brought his mother’s body wrapped in a tarp to the Nashville VA Medical Center, authorities said.

Thomas Henshall, aged 37, along with his girlfriend brought his mother’s body to the hospital around 5.15 p.m. on Saturday. The body was kept in the back of his truck, wrapped in a tarp. Henshall claimed that his mother died by suicide, according to an arrest warrant from Metro police.

Medics who reached the scene declared the victim dead, WKRN reported. The victim was identified as 60-year-old Danielle Bowen.

Henshall told the Metro Nashville police that he was right next to the victim when she shot herself. However, the girlfriend told officers that Henshall called her Friday and then again Saturday, sounding distraught. He then came to her house and told her that he found his mother dead in the woods and needed to take her somewhere, the report said.

The couple then drove across the state line, passing several hospitals and police precincts on the way, knowing that the victim is dead. They took the victim to the Nashville VA Medical Center under the pretense that the victim had died by suicide and they were trying to get help for her, according to the warrant.

Henshall and his girlfriend had multiple stops for food, coffee and gas before reaching Nashville, the report said.

In an interview with homicide detectives, Henshall said that he had kept the gun in an RV. He alleged that the RV was parked somewhere in the woods near a lake in Chattanooga but did not give further details. When investigators asked him how his mother obtained the gun, Henshall invoked his Miranda rights and ended the interview, reported WSMV.

Henshall is charged with failure to report the discovery of a dead body, and evidence tampering for touching, altering and concealing the victim’s body, clothes and personal items. He is jailed in the Davidson County Jail on $80,000 bond.

The Metro police are in contact with the Chattanooga Police Department regarding the incident.

If you have thoughts of suicide, confidential help is available for free at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Call 1-800-273-8255. The line is available 24 hours, every day.