Steven Benson (murderer)
Encyclopedia
Steven Wayne Benson is a convicted double murderer of his mother, tobacco heiress Margaret Benson; and his brother (actually his nephew but later adopted), tennis player Scott Benson. (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 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. Kendall survived but was badly burned; Margaret and Scott died instantly from the bomb impact. Represented by attorney Michael McDonnell, Steven Benson was ultimately convicted of murder
, attempted murder
and arson
. He avoided the death penalty, but is serving 50 years in state prison and will be eligible for parole at age 85. Benson has been transferred to different prisons during his time, because of constant threats and abuse from other prisoners. Because of the murder, Benson was attacked by other prisoners while serving his sentence in jail.
's investigative crime show Dominick Dunne's Power, Privilege, and Justice
devoted an hour for the case of Steven Benson.
There has been more than one book related to the crime and celebrity of the family. BLOOD RELATIONS By John Greenya. Illustrated. 358 pp. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, MONEY TO BURN The True Story of the Benson Family Murders. By Michael Mewshaw. Illustrated. 406 pp. New York: Atheneum, THE SERPENT'S TOOTH By Christopher P. Andersen. Illustrated. 246 pp. New York: Harper & Row.
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
Miss Florida
The Miss Florida competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Florida in the Miss America pageant. Florida has twice won the Miss America crown.-Winners:* Assumed the crown after Miss Florida won Miss America...
runner-up) were waiting for Steven to join them in the vehicle when the Suburban exploded. Kendall survived but was badly burned; Margaret and Scott died instantly from the bomb impact. Represented by attorney Michael McDonnell, Steven Benson was ultimately convicted of murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
, attempted murder
Attempted murder
Attempted murder is a crime in England and Wales and Northern Ireland.-Today:In English criminal law, attempted murder is the crime of more than merely preparing to commit unlawful killing and at the same time having a specific intention to cause the death of human being under the Queen's Peace...
and arson
Arson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
. He avoided the death penalty, but is serving 50 years in state prison and will be eligible for parole at age 85. Benson has been transferred to different prisons during his time, because of constant threats and abuse from other prisoners. Because of the murder, Benson was attacked by other prisoners while serving his sentence in jail.
In media
Dominick DunneDominick Dunne
Dominick John Dunne was an American writer and investigative journalist, whose subjects frequently hinged on the ways in which high society interacts with the judicial system...
's investigative crime show Dominick Dunne's Power, Privilege, and Justice
Dominick Dunne's Power, Privilege, and Justice
Dominick Dunne's Power, Privilege, and Justice was an American crime TV series that examined real-life cases of crime, passion, and greed involving privileged or famous people. The episodes were shown on truTV and on Star TV in Canada as well as Zone Reality in Europe and Bio. in Australia. The...
devoted an hour for the case of Steven Benson.
There has been more than one book related to the crime and celebrity of the family. BLOOD RELATIONS By John Greenya. Illustrated. 358 pp. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, MONEY TO BURN The True Story of the Benson Family Murders. By Michael Mewshaw. Illustrated. 406 pp. New York: Atheneum, THE SERPENT'S TOOTH By Christopher P. Andersen. Illustrated. 246 pp. New York: Harper & Row.