Steven Benson (murderer)

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Steven Benson
Steve benson.jpg
DOC Mugshot
Born(1951-07-26)July 26, 1951
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
DiedJuly 3, 2015(2015-07-03) (aged 63)
Perry, Florida
Criminal statusDeceased
Spouse(s)
Nancy Ferguson
​
​
(m. 1972; div. 1979)​

Debra Franks Larsen Benson
​
​
(m. 1980; div. 1993)​
Children3
Parent(s)Margaret Benson (Deceased)
Edward Benson (Deceased)
Conviction(s)First degree murder, attempted first degree murder, arson of a dwelling
Criminal penaltyTwo life sentences
Details
Victims3
DateJuly 9, 1985
Between 9:17 and 9:20 a.m.
CountryUnited States
State(s)Florida
Location(s)Quail Creek, Naples
Target(s)Margaret Benson (mother)
Killed2
InjuredCarol Lynn Benson Kendall
WeaponsPipe bombs
Date apprehended
August 22, 1985
Imprisoned atTaylor Correctional Institution

Steven Wayne Benson[1] (July 26, 1951 – July 3, 2015) was an American convicted double murderer of his mother, tobacco heiress Margaret Benson; and his brother (actually his nephew but later adopted), tennis player Scott Benson.[2] (Margaret Hitchcock Benson was heiress of the Lancaster Leaf Tobacco Co., Lancaster, Pa., and had no connection with Benson & Hedges brand cigarettes manufactured in the US by Philip Morris.) He was born in 1951 in Baltimore.[3]

On July 9, 1985 Benson placed a car bomb in the family car, in which Margaret, Scott, and Steven's sister, Carol Lynn Benson Kendall (a former Miss Florida runner-up), were waiting for Benson to join them in the vehicle when the Chevrolet Suburban exploded.[4] Kendall survived but was badly burned; Margaret and Scott died instantly from the bomb blast. Represented by attorney Michael McDonnell, Steven Benson was ultimately convicted of first degree murder, attempted first degree murder, and arson of a dwelling.[5] He avoided the death penalty, and was sentenced to two life terms in prison.[6][7] Over the course of his sentence, Benson was transferred to various prisons because of constant threats and abuse from other inmates.[8]

Benson died at Taylor Correctional Institution in Perry, Florida of a stab wound to the right side of the head with a homemade knife on July 3, 2015.[9][10] Benson was in a long running feud with Cordell Washington, another inmate at the facility. The feud went back to at least 2012 after a series of assaults by Washington. Inmates told investigators that Washington planned to extort $1,000 from Benson within days after arriving at Taylor Correctional Institution. When Benson refused to pay, Washington and another man, identified as Marvin Taylor, ambushed and shanked Benson.[11]

In media[]

Dominick Dunne's investigative crime show Dominick Dunne's Power, Privilege, and Justice devoted an hour for the case of Steven Benson.[12] Benson is also featured in an episode of the New Detectives entitled "Short Fuse" (Season 2, Episode 3) and an episode of entitled .[citation needed] In addition, the Benson Family murder case was the subject of The Serpent's Tooth, a 1987 book by Christopher Andersen.[citation needed]

References[]

  1. ^ "Inmate Population Information Detail - Steven Benson". Florida Department of Corrections. Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved February 7, 2010.
  2. ^ "Crimes of the Riches". The New York Times. September 13, 1987.
  3. ^ Aten, Tim. "In the Know: Is that Benson guy still in prison? » Naples Daily News". Naplesnews.com. Archived from the original on February 12, 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  4. ^ "Car Bomb Victim Was Son, Not Brother, Heiress Says". latimes. Archived from the original on 21 July 2015. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  5. ^ "`Heated Discussions` By Slain Heiress Told". tribunedigital-chicagotribune. Archived from the original on 22 July 2015. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  6. ^ "Anniversary recalls notorious crime". Marco Eagle. Archived from the original on December 1, 2008. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  7. ^ "Benson Guilty Of Murders `He Doesn'T Believe It,' Lawyer Says". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. Retrieved 2013-10-23.
  8. ^ "Anniversary recalls notorious crime » Marco Eagle". Marconews.com. Archived from the original on March 26, 2013. Retrieved 2013-10-23.
  9. ^ "Naples killer Steven Benson who sought $10 million family fortune dies in jail with $30 to his name". NPDN. Archived from the original on 22 July 2015. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  10. ^ "Man who blew up his tobacco heiress mother and brother dies in Florida prison". LancasterOnline. Archived from the original on 1 June 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  11. ^ Carpenter, Jacob; Batten, Brent (April 13, 2016). "Simmering feud with another inmate led to stabbing death of Steven Benson, inmates say". Naples Daily News. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  12. ^ "Court TV to air Benson story tonight". Highbeam.com. Archived from the original on 2012-11-02. Retrieved 2013-10-23.
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