The Lindsay Water and Ice store is closed one day after Mesa police arrested the owner, Trent Benson, in a series of killings and sexual assaults.Tim Hacker, Tribune
'Ideal father' held in rape-murder string
By Katie McDevitt, Gary Grado and Nick R. Martin
EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE
Tucson, Arizona Published: 05.16.2008
By Katie McDevitt, Gary Grado and Nick R. Martin
EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE
Tucson, Arizona Published: 05.16.2008
MESA — Sometimes he bought a hot dog from her deli, and other times she bought ice from his store.
They were two business owners in the same Mesa strip mall — both single and both trying to make a living.
But on Thursday morning deli-owner Hgourtlande Just found out her "nice and friendly" neighbor, 36-year-old Trent Benson, was arrested in one of Mesa's biggest crimes in more than a decade.
A DNA match linked Benson to a string of rapes and slayings dating to November 2004, according to police.
(snip)
Outside Benson's six-week-old business — called Lindsay Water and Ice and located near Lindsay Road and University Drive — a woman sat on a table Thursday waiting for the store to reopen. A "Closed" sign was prominent in the front window.
Lucia Barry's eyes opened wide when she learned of his arrest.
"He looks so nice, so handsome ... very gentle," said Barry, a regular customer at the tidy store that sold ice cream, snow cones and candy as well as water and ice.
The manhunt for the accused serial predator intensified last December after police linked two homicides through DNA. It expanded about two weeks ago when more rape victims were identified.
Both homicide victims were strangled and raped, and one of the rape victims was beaten nearly to death and left in a Phoenix street.
A fourth victim, who survived, was kidnapped in daylight at a busy intersection.
BE GLAD THAT DNA WAS INVENTED...
FOR A PERSONAL INSIGHT INTO TRENT BENSON, READ THIS BLOG...
12 comments:
Thanks for adding my link about my friend's up-close-and-personal experience with Benson. She's been having nightmares about him, and it's hard for her to put it out of her mind when his picture is plastered all over local news, and everyone's talking about it. It will be interesting to see how all this plays out. Who knows how many more women he's terrorized and murdered in all these years, and we just have yet to find out about them.
I also went to school with Trent and graduated with him, we had been friends all through school. This is just not something i could have imagined him ever doing. He was always easy to get along with and helpful. I had just seen him in 2006 when he was home for Christmas with his son. I am sure we will never know or understand what his reasons are for what he did, he probably does not even know himself. This will be something that will forever stump that people that knew him.
Hello, Everyone...thank you for posting. I was thinking about turning off the comment link, but all of you gave such great feedback on this story.
Freelance Observer...I went to your blog to make a comment, but couldn't seem to get very far. I wasnted to let you know that I linked up your blog. Will try to visit your blog again this weekend.
Tracy and Anonymous...I appreciate the insight into Trent's character. I would like to see an indepth investigation into this man's character. Just what brings a seemingly normal guy to do heinous things?
I was a classmate also.
He stayed overnight once in grade school. The next morning he was going through my mom's purse.
He introduced me to my high school girlfriend and was with me the night I met my wife for the first time.
He was fun to be around at the time.
Last time I tried contacting him the person that answered said that Trent had stole his cell phone. Didn't talk to him after that.
I think something happened to him before he was adopted (preschooler), because he has a good family, but was always a little odd.
I would like to know a little more about the "odd" part of Trent Benson. Just what was odd about him? Any observations?
The bottom line here is Yes he was raised by a good Christian family and had all the opportunities in the world but he was adopted! He was just simply born with the instinct to do such a thing. I would never in a million years blame the family for this. I am from Fosston myself and know of this family. My heart goes out to them for having to deal with such a tragedy. If he did this then he needs to pay for it. If he didnt (which is sounding highly unlikely) then I hope he gets a fair trial. I am simply embarassed by this.
"odd"
I don't know, I struggled with what word to use, odd, different...
But all of us are, we have all got our own peculiarities.
What I thought was "odd" about him was that I never forgot that he took some money from my Mom's purse. And so I never completely trusted him after that, eventhough I considered him a friend.
I am from Fosston too and am still in shock. I know his younger brother and sister very well. We all went to the same church and school together. It just makes me so sad for his family. What a tradegy!
I AM ALSO FROM FOSSTON AND AM GREAT FRIENDS WITH HIS BROTHER WHO IS A WONDERFUL PERSON. MY THOUGHTS ARE WITH HIM AND HIS FAMILY AS THEY GO THROUGH THIS TRYING TIME IN THEIR LIVES.
I am also from Fosston and although I didn't know Trent I was very good friends with his younger sister at one time. I'm actually very curious as to who all of the other "anonymous" posters are. It seems that this story is reaching everyone. It's hard when something happens in a small town because everyone knows everyone. My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and also to Trent's family who are good people. I also believe that justice needs to be served and that he needs to pay for the awful crimes that he committed.
I too ne Trent and the Benson family very well and just can't beleive that this has happened. My heart goes out not only to the whole Benson family but to all the familys that are hurting by this. I wish the best for everyone
i know trent very well, and cant believe he did these things. remember he is innocent until proven guilty. i have a feeling that he is going to get out of this....just watch......
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