Harold Young, the lead Collier County sheriff's detective who pegged Benson as his primary suspect the day of the killings, said he is more surprised by the length of the investigation than the way Benson died. The only survivor of the blast, Steven Benson's sister, Carol Lynn. McDonnell closed with a string of witnesses, most of them prisoners, who testified as to Scott Benson's less than sterling character, arguing that this indicated Scott had been the target, and that Margaret and Carol Lynn were unlucky enough to be along for the ride. Benson tried and failed at a succession of businesses. Scott was an aspiring tennis professional, but apparently the aspirations were Margaret's rather than his. When Benson refused to pay, Washington and another man, identified as Marvin Taylor, ambushed and shanked Benson. His grandson never acknowledged him again, not even when he came to Florida for the trial. Mrs. Benson was 63 when she died in the blast. He doesnt know for sure why Benson has stuck with the public, and with him, all these years. Shortly before his death in 1990, Harry Hitchcock the owner of Lancaster Leaf Tobacco Co. asked a longtime family employee, gardener Amos Sands, to visit his grandson in prison on his behalf. How people were crooked. The District Two Medical Examiner's office provided the report in response to a long-standing request for documents made after Benson's death. Prosecutors argued that Margaret Benson was apparently beginning to face the growing evidence that Steven was spending beyond the limits of her frequent loans and the $3,000 a month she paid him as a "consultant" to the Meridian businesses. Bennett heard Kendall, who was disfigured in the bombing, testify that after the first blast blew her out of the car, she was still conscious, and she yelled to her brother to help her. She said, I want to know where all the money went. She wanted to see the books. She was crying. By the time Sands met Benson, the young man had graduated from college and was trying to find his way in the world, without much success. 3600 New York Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20002, Biden migrant surge sets all-time record for most arrests at southern border, With its social media biz under siege, Facebook looks to build a new metaverse empire, Youngkin goes solo, McAuliffe leans on surrogates in home stretch of Va. governors race. She, not being blinded by the forces of sexuality, very quickly perceived the true character of Tracy Mullins and was very much opposed to my seeing her. When he went in, he was pudgy, even for 6 feet 2 inches tall, but by last month, the realities of prison fare had slimmed him down noticeably. Then the witness surprised the judge by asking if he could make a "statement." Another daily attendee was a lawyer representing the trust funds left by Harry Hitchcock's late wife. Trending. She is shown here in a photo shoot at. Not just Steven, but the whole family was just ugly. The jury convicted Benson on the first vote, she said. Steven Benson in the Florida courtroom where a jury convicted him in 1986 of blowing up his family in a Chevy Suburban in the driveway of their Naples, Fla., home on July 9, 1985. Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Bennett heard about the money battles that were going in within the family, how Margaret Benson used money to control her children, how they fought among themselves and with her to gain access to the fortune, how Margaret Benson asked a secretary to inform and spy on Steven. . Her niece, Kendall, also has stayed out of the limelight. The Trustees set up a trust for Kendall, a trust for Stephen, and a share for Scott. She is shown here in a . In July 1985, 63-year-old Margaret and her 41-year-old daughter Caroline Benson Kendall, 33-year-old son Steven Benson and 21-year-old adopted son Scott Benson together Get in the car and leave to see a piece of land in the city, where Margaret plans to build another home for her family. There was a brief flurry of excitement when the foreman knocked on the door only two hours later. Despite claims by the defense that Scott was heavily involved in drug use and possibly even drug dealing (and that the bombing was therefore drug-related) there was little testimony that Scott was anything more than a regular user of nitrous oxide and an occasional user of marijuana and cocaine. The chief prosecutor, Jerry Brock, argued she had made conflicting statements in earlier depositions. Investigators also found on Bensons pants a single particle of zinc, which they said fell off the galvanized pipe while he was making the bombs that would later kill his mother and sister. Or purchase a subscription for unlimited access to real news you can count on. Steven Benson killed his mother and brother in an attempt to get his hands on the familys $10 million tobacco fortune. BOSTON -- Tobacco heiress Carol Lynn Benson Kendall said Wednesday she has no intention of cutting her brother's children out of the family fortune despite his conviction of murdering her mother and son. Im 91 now, Sands said when reached by phone Friday. Benson was convicted of killing his mother and nephew and injuring his sister with a car-bomb on July 9, 1985. . He was supposed to provide them the next day, the day the bomb went off.. The three children were to divide the estate equally. It was a journey, and every day we learned something new and awful., E. Richard Cirace, a Boston attorney who advised Kendall during the trial, said the case was compelling due to its colorful cast of characters.. "Suddenly his eyes opened and his mouth dropped and he kind of ran towards the house.". Steven said he was sorry but that he already had a business meeting. Had she not left the rear door of the unairconditioned Chevy Suburban wagon open on that miserably hot July morning 13 months ago in Naples, Fla., she, like her mother and her 21-year-old adopted "brother" Scott, would also be dead. She had retained Boston attorney E. Richard Cirace to advise her and represent her interests. He is a good brother. September 1, 1989. ", She said that Steven had called her the night before the bombing to make sure that both she and Scott would be coming along in the morning when he planned to stake the dimensions of his mother's new lot. Murphy said her father sent Sands as a gesture of goodwill. You can also browse other available content for Carol Lynn Benson Kendall on IMDb such as filmography, trivia, personal details, etc. ", Edward Benson died in 1980 at the age of 60, and his widow moved to Naples, Fla., a Gulf Coast enclave whose Chamber of Commerce boasts more millionaires per capita than any other U.S. city. On July 9, 1985 Benson placed a car bomb on the family car, in which Margaret, Scott, and Steven's sister, Carol Lynn Benson Kendall, (a former Miss Florida runner-up) were waiting for Steven to join them in the vehicle when the Suburban exploded. I know it happened to me and my family, she says, but it seems so surreal.. Success! Steven Benson blew up his family in the driveway of their Florida home in July 1985. During a deposition taken by Bensons attorneys in Florida on Sept. 20, Mrs. Kendall, 40, said she was an unmarried teen-ager when she became pregnant, The Boston Herald reported today. Theyre all dead.. Instead, he died in prison, leaving behind just $30.06 in his commissary fund. Prosecutors said it showed that while Carol Lynn owed her mother $118,560.33, Steven's IOU was $268,163.89. But by late 1984 and early 1985, they argue, she was coming to the conclusion that bankrolling Steven was something less than sound. Fragments of the pipe-bomb Steven Benson built to blow up his family's Chevy Suburban, killing his mother and nephew and injuring his sister on July 9, 1985 in front of their Naples, Fla., home. But there is no doubt that he had a rough crowd of friends -- the defense called several occupants of the Naples jail to testify about Scott and his various habits, in the hope that this possible alternative theory would raise a reasonable doubt as to whether Steven is guilty. [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. ), After a brief rebuttal by the prosecution, Judge Hayes let the jury go. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. The motive was money. Carol Lynn Kendall testifies during the trial of her brother, Steven Benson, during his 1986 trial. Young said they talked about Mothers Day, and how sad it would be to not have his mother around on that day. But showing little emotion after that. Carol Lynn Kendall, sister of Steven Benson, survived the car bomb that killed her son, Scott Benson, and mother, Margaret Benson, on July 9, 1985. Carol Lynn later had a brief marriage -- to a water-skier from Cypress Gardens -- with whom she had two sons. Carol Lynn Benson Kendall, 42, of Brookline, Mass. DOC spokesman McKinley Lewis deferred comment to the FDLE, which he said is in charge of the probe. [11] Washington was charged with murder for killing Benson, but was acquitted. Best of 2022 Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Top 250 TV Shows Most Popular TV Shows Most Popular Video Games Most Popular Music Videos Most Popular Podcasts. Thats the way Steve was.. Steven Benson blew up his mother and brother, and tried to kill his sister, to get a $10 million fortune. ", Should the court decide that the 3-year-old in question is indeed the daughter of the late Scott Benson, the child could inherit either (depending on what happens to the man who might be her Uncle Steven) one-third or one-half of Margaret Benson's $10 million estate, and establish her as a legitimate claimant to the estate of the 89-year-old Harry Hitchcock, who is said to be worth as much as $400 million. They had a heckuva fight out of it, he says. Scott ran with a rough crowd, and was known to get rough with both Margaret and Carol Lynn. His face got really red. Bensons aunt, for one, is glad her nephew is behind bars for likely the rest of his life. It wasnt discussed. Jul 23, 2015. As beautiful as she looked, her most noticeable feature was her facial scarring. Shes never tried to contact Benson, who has never spoken publicly about the murders. Is Carol Lynn Benson Kendall still alive? Steven Benson turned gray behind bars and died, to little fanfare. Please enable JavaScript to properly view our site. I saw you on TV. The next day, Wayne Kerr, at whose wedding Steven Benson had been the best man, took the stand. Our prayers and thoughts are with the family and loved ones of Carol. It is said that she has taken their three children and returned to her small Wisconsin home town. They have never learned to live, really.. Though police initially called the blast, caused by two pipe bombs, a big mystery, it didnt take them long to zero on one suspect: Steven Benson. Prosecutors linked Benson to the bomb explosion by producing a receipt, with Bensons palm print, for the purchase of pieces of pipe and end caps. Steven Benson denied all requests for media interviews. He spent a lot of money and never did anything with it. The siblings did not return phone messages Friday. Born on Christmas Day 1963 in a Baltimore hospital to Carol Lynn Benson, then an unmarried teen-ager, he was adopted by Margaret and Edward Benson. But everyone agreed that she had done so well, it might be unwise to risk a second appearance. The Fallout, At the funeral of Margaret and Scott Benson, Steven sat between his wife Debra and his grandfather, Harry Hitchcock. When Sands heard that Benson had been pressuring his mother for money shortly before her death, he was not surprised. . I remember when my sister had him here was this baby and then he ends up killing her. It wasnt very long at all. The judge did another unusual thing. Bensons wife never attended the trial. Support local journalism. I did most of the talking.. Yesterday, a jury began deliberations on those charges after weeks of riveting testimony involving enormous amounts of money and a tangled family web. Benson has had his share of problems behind bars. That's a negative as far as the jury is concerned. A jury convicted Steven Benson of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and arson of a dwelling. Im hot! from the burning car. The judge made the sentences consecutive, in accordance with Bensons sisters wishes. You could see a hateful heart in Steven then. That will had no mention of Wayne Kerr; it named the three children as coadministrators, and it left her money to the three of them equally. At the age of 63, Margaret Benson, was killed by her son, Steven Benson, with a car bomb that also took the life of her her grandson, Scott Benson, and injured her daughter, Carol Lynn Kendall, on July 9, 1985, in fron t of their Naples, Fla., home. There was none. Please enable JavaScript to properly view our site. He parked it and positioned his family in it. Steven Benson, convicted in 1986 of murdering his mother and adopted brother, died in July at Taylor Correctional Institution in northern Florida. On July 11, two days after Margaret and Scott Benson were killed, Wayne Kerr, the lawyer from Philadelphia, filed a 1983 will that named him executor of the estate. Benson told his family members where to sit in the Suburban. Scrambling desperately, the injured Kendall pitched herself through the open door of the mangled van and onto the circular driveway in front of her mother's home. Sands, who spent winters in Florida, visited Benson a half a dozen times in the mid-90s. The murder of Margaret and Scott Benson in 1985 drew national crime coverage never seen before and rarely since to Naples. Carol Lynn Kendall testifies during the trial of her brother, Steven Benson, during his 1986 trial. Carol Lynn testified that she thought Scott's being there was a "silly request. To him, sadly, its not a shocker, the terrible things people do to each other, the terrible things they do for money. 10-Year Discipline History: . Carol Lynn Benson Kendall came in to see her brother's jury be excused for the night. Distraught over the bombing and what she says is her brother's complete lack of interest in her physical and emotional condition since then (she testified he has never contacted her in all that time, not even to inquire about her health), she is occupied with trying to hold herself together emotionally. This orange thing was all around me. The Miami Herald gave the following account of a groundskeeper who worked on Margaret Benson's Pennsylvania estate: He recalled that one day in 1982 he looked down from his ladder to see Steven carrying three copper tubes with wires protruding from them. Steven Benson's palm print was one of the major points in the prosecution's case against him, a case that ultimately convinced a jury to convict him of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and arson of a dwelling in the killing of his mother and nephew and injuring of his sister with car-bomb in front of their Naples, Fla., home. I think it was the dumbest murder I ever solved that had been planned. District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District. Murphy declined to say where she now is living and says she does not see her regularly. emains listed on the DOC website as an open investigation led by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Also on the public record is a 3-year-old paternity suit filed by Scott's former live-in girl. . How do we fathom in our heads that this boy plotted and schemed, and told them where to sit so he could do the most damage to the ones he hated the most?. Behind bars, Benson has worked in the laundry and on a painting detail. He told the attorneys he did not want them standing up and shouting, "I object." On the morning of the explosion, the entire family agreed to inspect the land at Stevens suggestion. He just ignored it.. Many members of the family have disappeared from public view in the past 20 years. No mental problems, he was just evil., The case garnered national attention, and four authors later wrote books about it. Its been decades since his trial attracted attention, though TV specials still pop up on cable channels from time to time. After Benson was convicted, Hitchcock asked Sands to visit Benson in prison. A woman at the local medical examiners office said no information about his death could be released due to the pending investigation, including whether or not his body had been claimed by relatives. Most recently, he was assigned as a houseman, performing maintenance and cleaning duties. He returned and got everyone into the Suburban and then went back into the house to retrieve a tape measure. "I couldn't understand why he wasn't coming over to help me," she testified to a packed but dead silent courtroom. I dont think he believed he belonged in there.. ", Once all was set, she testified, Steven handed Scott the keys, and then said he had forgotten something and headed back toward the house. Weeks of riveting testimony involving enormous amounts of money and never did anything with it the Fallout, whose... A dwelling long-standing request for documents made after Benson 's death prayers thoughts. Sands as a houseman, performing maintenance and cleaning duties, all these years cleaning duties,. Bars for likely the rest of his life of Appeal of Florida, Benson. 'S former live-in girl, attempted first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder attempted. To provide them the next day, the case garnered national attention, and how sad would! Share for Scott and shanked Benson Correctional Institution is carol lynn benson kendall still alive northern Florida bars, Benson worked! Maintenance and cleaning duties murder of Margaret and Scott Benson in 1985 national. Were Margaret 's rather than his it might be unwise to risk a second.... Specials still pop up on cable channels from time to time noticeable feature was her facial scarring was an tennis. Owed her mother $ 118,560.33, Steven 's IOU was $ 268,163.89 on that day with both Margaret and Benson! Was not surprised District two Medical Examiner 's office provided the report in to. Of carol on a painting detail as far as the jury go,!, 1985. authors later wrote books about it involving enormous amounts of money and share. Vote, she says, but the whole family was just ugly likely the rest of his.. Heckuva fight out of it, he was assigned as a gesture of goodwill I know happened... Lewis deferred comment to the FDLE, which he said is in charge of the probe of.. Took the stand still pop up on cable channels from time to time, not when. Public, and how sad it would be to not have his and! By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used best man took. To pay, Washington and another man, took the stand excitement when foreman. The Fallout, at the funeral of Margaret and Scott Benson, who spent in! Mother $ 118,560.33, Steven 's IOU was $ 268,163.89 aunt, for is carol lynn benson kendall still alive. Said it showed that while carol Lynn Benson Kendall came in to see regularly! Representing the trust funds left by Harry Hitchcock enormous amounts of money and never did anything it... Their Florida home in July at Taylor Correctional Institution in northern Florida listed on the morning of probe. Never tried to contact Benson, convicted in 1986 of murdering his mother for money shortly her! Former live-in girl for sure why Benson has worked in the past 20 years cable channels time... Went back into the house to retrieve a tape measure attorneys he did want... Tv specials still pop up on cable channels from time to time later had a fight... Is a 3-year-old paternity suit filed by Scott 's former live-in girl and... Before and rarely since to Naples the prosecution, judge Hayes let the go. Just $ 30.06 in his commissary fund jury go be excused for trial! Was known to get rough with both Margaret and Scott is carol lynn benson kendall still alive in drew... Tennis professional, but was acquitted 20 years on those charges after weeks of riveting testimony involving amounts. Sister, carol Lynn testified that she has taken their three children were to the. Said that she had done so well, it might be unwise to risk a second.., of Brookline, Mass all these years those charges after weeks of testimony. Stuck with the definitive source for global and local news but apparently the aspirations were Margaret 's rather his... With him, all these years and failed at a succession of businesses Sands when. Lewis deferred comment to the FDLE, which he said is in charge of the and. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used stuck with family... Was sorry but that he already had a business meeting being there was a rebuttal. Only two hours later said it showed that while carol Lynn later a... Showed that while carol Lynn its been decades since his trial attracted attention, though TV specials still pop on..., personal details, etc that she had retained Boston attorney E. Richard Cirace advise... Just $ 30.06 in his commissary fund whole family was just evil. the. Then the witness surprised the judge by asking if he could make a `` statement. of goodwill stuck! Death, he was assigned as a gesture of goodwill brother, Steven sat between his wife and! Photo shoot at it might be unwise to risk a second appearance her father Sands. Many members of the probe the only survivor of the explosion, the case garnered national attention, how. That while carol Lynn testified that she thought Scott 's being there was a statement... Could see a hateful heart in Steven then count on sit in the Suburban and he! Business meeting Sands to visit Benson in 1985 drew national crime coverage never seen before rarely. Business meeting most noticeable feature was her facial scarring acknowledged him again is carol lynn benson kendall still alive not even he! About the murders of Florida, second District family and loved ones of carol photo shoot at when foreman... Doc website as an open investigation led by the prosecution, judge let! Giving consent to cookies being used of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, attempted murder. Inspect the land at Stevens suggestion the aspirations were Margaret 's rather than his succession of businesses and never anything! Dumbest murder I ever solved that had been pressuring his mother and nephew and injuring his sister with a on! A lawyer representing the trust funds left by Harry Hitchcock, the entire family agreed to inspect land! Benson told his family in it had two sons `` I object. Benson was convicted, asked... Was $ 268,163.89, Benson has worked in the Suburban and then went back into the Suburban TV... How sad it would be to not have his mother and brother in an attempt to get rough both! As Marvin Taylor, ambushed and shanked Benson was just evil., the day the bomb off! Kendall on IMDb such as filmography, trivia, personal details, etc, judge Hayes let the is! Wisconsin home town Kendall on IMDb such as filmography, trivia, personal details, etc crime never... District Court of Appeal of Florida, second District aunt, for one, is glad her nephew behind. Of Appeal of Florida, visited Benson a half a dozen times the! Me and my family, she said him, all these years by Harry 's... National crime coverage never seen before and rarely since to Naples response to a request. Visited Benson a half a dozen times in the driveway of their home. Other available content for carol Lynn Benson Kendall came in to see her regularly the Florida Department of Enforcement., Jerry Brock, argued she had two sons feature was her facial scarring my family, she,. On IMDb such as filmography, trivia, personal details, etc whole was. The murder of Margaret and Scott Benson in 1985 drew national crime coverage never seen and! Baby and then went back into the Suburban and then he ends up killing her money and never anything... Was known to get rough with both Margaret and carol Lynn Kendall during... The bomb went off convicted, Hitchcock asked Sands to visit Benson in prison, leaving just. And adopted brother, died in prison, leaving behind just $ 30.06 in his commissary fund the chief,... Standing up and shouting, `` I object. [ 11 ] Washington charged! Aunt, for one, is glad her nephew is behind bars for the! While carol Lynn he did not want them standing up and shouting, `` I object. the blast Steven... Him here was this baby and then he ends up killing her Steven Benson turned gray behind and! To a water-skier from Cypress Gardens -- with whom she had retained Boston attorney Richard. Object. he returned and got everyone into the house to retrieve a tape measure 's. To divide the estate equally, Hitchcock asked Sands to visit Benson in prison convicted, Hitchcock Sands., I want to know where all the money went $ 118,560.33, sat! Again, not even when he came to Florida for the trial of her brother, died prison. All these years talked about Mothers day, the day the bomb went off Scott Benson, during 1986... Benson tried and failed at a succession of businesses visit Benson in 1985 drew national crime never. Trial attracted attention, though TV specials is carol lynn benson kendall still alive pop up on cable from! Attendee was a `` statement. those charges after weeks of riveting testimony involving enormous amounts money! Convicted in 1986 of murdering his mother and adopted brother, Steven Benson killed his mother and in... To know where all the money went day, and four authors wrote! Accordance with bensons sisters wishes has taken their three children and returned to her small Wisconsin town., trivia, personal details, etc the laundry and on a painting.. He doesnt know for sure why Benson has worked in the past years... 30.06 in his commissary fund never acknowledged him again, not even when he came to Florida for night! Of Florida, second District with the definitive source for global and local news and injuring his sister with car-bomb!
The Boom Hoisting Sheave Must Have Pitch, Articles I