A Minnesota man has been charged with murder after police say he savagely beat his female roommate to death, leaving behind a bloody scene that investigators allege he tried to cover up.
The Arrest
Police in Richfield, just south of Minneapolis, responded to a 911 call around 5 a.m. Sunday from 37-year-old Shay Michael Benson. He told dispatchers that his roommate was “laying in the shower” with her “head cracked open.”
When officers arrived at the home on Bloomington Avenue South, they found the woman dead with a gruesome head wound that exposed her skull. She also had a broken nose and both eyes swollen shut.
Benson, still at the scene, was reportedly covered in blood with fresh injuries on his hands. He was immediately taken into custody and is now facing second-degree murder with intent.
Evidence at the Scene
Investigators quickly determined that Benson’s version of events — claiming the victim slipped and fell in the shower — did not match the evidence.
Blood spatter was found throughout the basement living area where the woman stayed, including on the floor, rug, walls, books, and furniture. Police said some areas showed signs of being wiped down in an attempt to clean up.
Inside the laundry room and washer, officers found bloody clothing, sneakers, rugs, and even half of a ripped bra. The other half was discovered on the floor, also covered in blood.
A Child Caught in the Middle
Perhaps the most heartbreaking detail came from the victim’s lower-level bedroom, where her 2-year-old daughter was found asleep. The child had blood spatter on her arm, though she was not physically harmed.
Surveillance Footage
Adding to the case, a neighbor’s surveillance camera showed Benson and the victim arguing outside the home just before midnight. That was the last time the victim appeared on video. Hours later, Benson was seen again on the driveway wearing different shoes, getting into an SUV, and returning to the home just before 5 a.m.
Police Conclusion
Based on the evidence, investigators say Benson’s explanation was “inconsistent with crime scene evidence” and pointed instead to a brutal assault followed by an attempted cover-up.
Court Proceedings
Benson is currently being held in Hennepin County Jail on $1 million bond. He is scheduled to make his first court appearance Wednesday afternoon before Judge Daniel C. Moreno.
This horrifying case has left a Minnesota community shaken, as details reveal not only the violent killing of a woman but also the disturbing fact that her toddler was nearby while it happened.
Authorities say the evidence points to a calculated cover-up, and Benson will now face justice for what prosecutors allege was a deliberate act of murder.
