Steven Benson (murderer)
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Steven Wayne Benson | |
|---|---|
 DOC Mugshot | |
| Born | July 26, 1951 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Died | July 3, 2015 (aged 63) Perry, Florida, U.S. |
| Criminal status | Deceased |
| Spouses | Nancy Ferguson
(m. 1972; div. 1979)Debra Franks Larsen Benson
(m. 1980; div. 1993) |
| Children | 3 |
| Parent(s) | Margaret Benson (Deceased) Edward Benson (Deceased) |
| Convictions | First degree murder Attempted first degree murder Arson of a dwelling Arson |
| Criminal penalty | Life imprisonment |
| Details | |
| Victims | 2 |
| Date | July 9, 1985 Between 9:17 and 9:20 a.m. |
| Country | United States |
| State | Florida |
| Locations | Quail Creek, Naples |
| Target | Margaret Benson (mother) |
| Injured | Carol Lynn Benson Kendall |
| Weapons | Pipe bombs |
Date apprehended | August 22, 1985 |
| Imprisoned at | Taylor 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.
On July 9, 1985, Benson placed a pipe 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 when the Chevrolet Suburban exploded.[3] 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.[4] He avoided the death penalty, and was sentenced to two life terms in prison.[5][6] Over the course of his sentence, Benson was transferred to various prisons because of constant threats and abuse from other inmates.[7]
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.[8][9] 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.[10] Washington was charged with murder for killing Benson, but was acquitted.[11]