CINCINNATI, OH – A pair of defendants who plotted to lure and ambush a Cincinnati man for robbery, resulting in his death, have now received their final sentences, closing a lengthy and emotionally fraught criminal case.
Christian Henderson, now in his early twenties, was sentenced last month to 44 years to life in prison for the June 2021 murder of 23-year-old Luke Macke. Henderson was found guilty over the summer on multiple counts, including aggravated murder and aggravated robbery.
The second defendant, Savannah Wilson, who was just 16 at the time of Macke’s death, learned her fate this week. She accepted a plea agreement, admitting to involuntary manslaughter and related charges. Wilson was sentenced to 14 years in prison with credit for four years already spent in custody. Her plea came as part of a deal requiring her to provide testimony against Henderson during his trial.
According to court records and testimony, Wilson devised a scheme to attract Macke to a location in the Westwood neighborhood, where Henderson waited to carry out the planned robbery. Although Wilson was still a minor at the time, investigators determined she played a leading role in the fatal encounter. Authorities described her actions as a “trap” that led to Macke’s shooting.
Macke’s family members addressed both defendants during their sentencing hearings, expressing the enduring pain and devastation the killing caused. In court, Wilson heard firsthand from relatives who described the profound loss, emphasizing the betrayal felt because of her age and the trust she had gained from Macke.
Prosecutors delayed proceedings against Wilson for years, focusing first on securing Henderson’s conviction. Henderson’s case was drawn out by procedural complications, including changes in legal representation, attempts to represent himself, and a mistrial following a reported incident in jail in which he was found with self-inflicted injuries.
During the sentencing, Macke’s mother recounted the last voicemail her son left before his death, highlighting the emotional toll the case has taken on the family. After Henderson’s conviction, she voiced relief that justice had finally been served, marking the end of a four-year ordeal.
Both Henderson and Wilson are receiving credit for time served as part of their respective sentences. In court, Henderson expressed remorse for his actions but directed his apology solely to the judge rather than the victim’s family.
The killing, which stemmed from a robbery plot initiated through online communication, left questions about whether Macke was aware he was meeting Wilson alone or had been deceived about her intentions. Authorities have not clarified details surrounding the victim’s knowledge of the planned meeting.
With both defendants now sentenced, the case stands as yet another example of how online schemes can escalate to deadly violence. For Macke’s family, the legal closure brings little solace but ends a prolonged chapter of legal proceedings in Hamilton County.