She failed to timely respond to investigative inquiries from the Bar about cases, and she failed to return unearned client fees. Bensons mother, Margaret Benson, and his adopted brother, Scott Benson, were killed. One reason for the law firms amicable split in 2014 was because of case conflicts among the individual lawyers, McFee said. All rights reserved. McCray subsequently failed to appear in court, failed to communicate with the client, relocated her office to another city and failed to perform services. An autopsy conducted three days after Benson diedfound a puncture wound on his right temple. Carol Kendall was born on 07/08/1944 and is 78 years old. He always found the time to visit them during their college years out of state and that continued during their milestone life events, Taylor Berry said. (Admitted to practice: 2002) Further, Kendall shall pay, of $1,075 to one client. Notwithstanding that she had been advised by both the trustees and the court that she could not disclaim the principal, Kendall, appearing pro se, filed exceptions to the First and Final Account and the Adjudication of the Scott R. Benson Trust, arguing that she had validly disclaimed her one-half interest in the Scott R. Benson trust in favor of her sons. In the second matter, Kendall withdrew from representation, forcing the client to hire new counsel. Walter L. Mitchell, a senior chemist for the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, said . She was badly injured in the. He was friendly. And Steven obeyed them. Steven needed access to his mother's wealth and he was prepared to kill for it. Collier County's most notorious killer himself met with a violent end. The details surrounding Benson's violent death in prison add a new level of intrigue to one of the most notorious crimes of its time. Steven Benson, convicted in 1986 of murdering his mother and adopted brother, died in July at Taylor Correctional. Police now had their number one suspect: Steven Benson. You already receive all suggested Justia Opinion Summary Newsletters. Related To Amber Benson, Fred Benson, Oscar Benson, Howard Benson, Jr Benson. Edward Benson, prior to his death on November 4, 1980, had executed a revocable life insurance trust agreement providing: (1) for his control of the income and principal as long as he lived; (2) at his death, income was to go to his surviving spouse, Margaret; (3) at her death, the principal was to be divided into separate trusts for his then living children, with income and a periodic *585 payment of 2% of the principal going to each child for life; and, (4) at each child's death, the then remaining principal was to go to an appointee of the child or to his or her issue, if any, or otherwise, to the issue of the settlor. He always wanted so much, and he would holler and scream and carry on until he got it," one of Margaret Benson's former bookkeepers testified. The extended Benson family is still reeling from his cruel and vicious attack on his own mother and siblings. Why? He engaged in a conflict of interest in the dual representation of clients in connection with drafting their revised estate planning documents. for three years, effective immediately, following a Sept. 13 court order. Jerry was one of the most compassionate and empathetic people I have ever met, Circuit Court Judge Shannon McFee said. SEARCH. It was on a golf course in October 2021 at their family home in Cashiers, North Carolina, where he felt something was not right, his daughter said. Since the Florida paternity claimant was found not to be Scott's surviving heir, Scott was ruled to have died without issue at the same time as his mother. Carol Lynn Kendall testifies during the trial of her brother, Steven Benson, during his 1986 trial. "They were an unusual family," said psychiatrist Jose Lombillo. Why are we still having these debates? Trust Instrument, dated 9/30/80 at 5. They married in 1980 in Lakeland and moved the following year to Naples. She failed to pay restitution; failed to timely provide notice of her suspension to her clients, opposing counsel and the courts; she failed to pay costs. FORT MYERS -- The Bensons of Naples have been portrayed in court testimony as a family of spoiled brats, so greedy and self-centered they barely could stand the sight of one another as they clawed and scratched for the biggest piece of the $10 million family pie. Then, one of their own betrayed them. He will be eligible for parole when he is 85. More:Naples Winter Wine Festival: How much did these 50 auction lots go for? He would go out of his way to engage people, such as me at times, who wondered how he could represent so many wrongdoers, Lytle said. Steven Wayne Benson was an American double murderer of his mother, tobacco heiress Margaret Benson, and his brother, tennis player Scott Benson. Despite the long hours in his career, Berry refused to miss school functions when his two children were young. Scott Benson, according to Lombillo, thought the former beauty contest winner was "selfish, interested only in herself and her social life and her extravagances.". 358.341000 - 14 in. View contact info: Address, Phone, Email & Photos. Kendall survived but was badly burned; Margaret and Scott died instantly from the bomb . Located on the Gulf of Mexico in southwestern Florida, Naples is home to many wealthy families and has long been considered a prosperous and very safe community. Caroline agreed to speak with the police. He went to a nearby emergency room and came to. Received one year probation. Or Scott? I have a strong feeling Steven Benson also knew, Cirace said. Who was Scott Benson's mother? When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. They are required to go through an extensive process that rejects many who apply. Despite the stereotype of rich families being distant from each other, the Benson clan was a tight-knit group. In July 2015, he died in prison after a fellow inmate stabbed him in the head, Lancaster Online reported at the time. https://insideeko.com/carol-lynn-benson-kendall-obituary-d/ insideeko.com So many people considered Dad a mentor, his daughter, Taylor Berry, 38, said. It was all about making sure the person is getting a fair shake, especially in our area, Day said, referring to conservative Collier with its strong law and order mindset. When his two children were growing up, Berry focused on their education, their independence and their own interests. Johnson v. Johnson, 410 Pa.Super. McFee said he became an attorney because of Berry, who a year after leaving the state attorneys office joined defense attorney Mike McDonnell in what is still likely the most notorious murder case in Naples history. Hollywood, Florida, United States Select the best result to find their address, phone number, relatives, and public records. Investigators -- including ATF explosive experts called in from Washington, D.C. and Atlanta -- were attempting to determine how and where the bombs were placed in the wagon. Could have faced up to 10 years in prison on two felony-on-a-law-officer-charges. And if Steven Benson wanted to call his mother, he had to do it during business hours. For one thing, Debbie Benson forbade Margaret Benson from seeing her grandchildren. The judges in Collier recognized him with the Donald VanKoughnet Lion of the Law award, the most prestigious award trial attorneys in Collier can receive. However, police were still missing physical evidence to tie him into the explosion, so they turned their attention to tracing where the materials for the two pipe bombs that destroyed the car. An email has been sent with a link to confirm list signup. Prosecutors linked Benson to the bomb explosion by producing a receipt, with Benson's palm print, for the purchase of pieces of pipe and end caps used in the bomb. (Admitted to practice: 1997) Smitten pleaded guilty in court and was adjudicated guilty of grand theft, a felony. Naples Winter Wine Festival: How much did these 50 auction lots go for? In 2002, TV legend Carol Burnett 's life was forever changed when her youngest daughter Carrie Hamilton, 38, died of cancer that had started . A lot of it was going toward a new home she was planning to build in Naples. Carolyn I Benson in Indiana We found 14 records for Carolyn I Benson in Monticello, Gary and 9 other cities in Indiana. Click here to learn more about the role the Lancaster County Local Journalism Fund plays in Lancaster County and to make a tax-deductible donation. Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. Carol Lynn Benson Kendall, a former Naples City Council candidate, is now a lawyer in Broward County focusing on family law and real estate. He was coming back to the complex after working late as a prosecutor. Steven Benson died of a stab wound to the head in Florida jail, By opting into newsletters you are agreeing to our. 2002 -Bill Rasmussen, founder of ESPN, pleaded guilty to reduced fraud charges in the failed Stadium Naples golf course arena. The car reportedly exploded in two separate blasts spaced about a half-minute apart, hurling debris some 200 yards and seriously injuring Mrs. Benson's daughter, Carol Lynn Benson, 40, of Boston, who was seated in the left rear seat. Then a tabloid scandal erupted when it was revealed that Scott was actually Caroline's son she had secretly given birth and let her parents raise him as their adopted child. "I thought I was being electrocuted. he asked in the report. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Carol Benson December 21, 1945 - December 17, 2020 Lexington, Kentucky - Carol Ann Benson (nee Durand) at her home in Kentucky (formerly of Minnesota and Florida). NAPLES It was a most unlikely locale for such a stunning and violent crime -- inside the exclusive, tightly guarded Quail Creek subdivision, a few yards from the front door of an elegant $400,000 home. He attended Caseys basketball games at the University of the South where he was a starting player; he arrived at the Nashville hospital when his granddaughter was born, wearing the same trousers and tie worn earlier to his office. According to testimony, she gave Scott Benson $250,000 in cash and gifts, including two cars, a van and a boat, in two years. SC15-1305), until further order, effective 30 days from a Sept. 28 court order. It was Dad (at gatherings) who would rough house getting all the kids wound up.. We only did criminal defense. Estate of Keefauver, 359 Pa.Super. "I don't really know how to comment on it. While his sister was attending college at the age of 41 and his adoptive brother was playing tennis, chasing girls, taking drugs and driving fancy cars, Steven Benson was running a family business and failing miserably at it. The photo at left shows Steven Benson at his 1986 trial; the one at right is the most recent photo of him from the Florida Department of Corrections. She escaped from the vehicle, and as she rolled around on the grass trying to extinguish the flames that were engulfing her, she says that she saw Steven watching her. Two years after Florida's massage parlor crackdown, no one has faced sex trafficking charges. The city of Naples, on the Gulf of Mexico in southwest Florida, is home to many rich families and has long been considered to be a thriving and very safe community. An aerial shot of the home is shown in the background. Kendall survived but was badly burned; Margaret and Scott died instantly from the bomb impact. We affirm. Florida law enforcement officials have provided few details about Bensons death nine months ago, on July 3. Access innovative tools, leverage advanced methods for marketing and stay on top of current trends from the National Association of REALTORS. Luckily, another family member was finally ready to talk. Margaret Benson and her adopted son, Scott Benson, 21, died in the July 9, 1985 pipe bombing that her son, Steven Benson, 35, is accused of setting outside the family's Naples estate. The home she was living in, valued at about $300,000, didn't have the right view. The records do not indicate when Benson sustained the wound to his right temple. He received his law degree from Florida State University in 1979. He refused to admit his guilt, and a high-profile trial ensued. If you use a windshield cover, you can at least forget about scrapping the ice off your windshield to save some time and hassle. The wealthy Benson family of Naples, Floridaseemed to have it all. Stay up-to-date with how the law affects your life. He believed everyone deserved a vigorous defense and was always on the lookout for prosecutorial abuses, Batten said. In fact, Capt. While his mother, sister and brother often vented their anger and frustration at each other by yelling, screaming, arguing and fighting, family employees testified, Steven Benson "never seemed to get mad. COVID origins? The extended Benson family is still reeling from his cruel and vicious attack on his own mother and siblings. In July 1985, Margaret, 63, her 41-year-old daughter, Carolyn Benson Kendall, her 33-year-old son Steven Benson, and her 21-year-old adopted son, Scott Benson, all got into a vehicle to go check out a plot of land in the city, where Margaret was planning to build another home for the family. Brent Batten, a retired columnist and reporter for the Naples Daily News, said Berry was a strong advocate for protecting the rights of the accused. It was also a match for Steven. Investigators Recall Benson Family Murders Crime Scene. 772 (1946). Check Kathy Lynn Benson more contact info for free. He always believed kids should be kids. Was Scott Benson A Target In The Bensons' Car Bombing? A team of 20 investigators from the Collier County Sheriff's Office and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) have discovered some 40 fragments of two suspected pipe bombs in and around the wagon, officials said. It wasnt a firm, it was a family. The trial was televised nationally and brought widespread attention to Naples. 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 Benson to join them in the vehicle when the Chevrolet Suburban exploded. Contrary to the argument of the trustees, the settlor provided a scheme of distribution that treated all of his children equally when all of his children were alive and equally when all of his children were dead. Why? He was diagnosed with cancer in October 2021. SC16-1951), until further order, following a Sept. 19 court order. Under Florida law, Steven Benson is precluded from receiving proceeds of the estate of the person he murdered, Hayes said. That girl later filed a paternity suit against him. Before JOHNSON, FORD ELLIOTT and HOFFMAN, JJ. 631, 600 A.2d 965 (1991). Finally, the prosecution is attempting to show, mild-mannered Steven Benson had had enough. "What impressed me most was that there wasn't an ashtray in the house: She owns a cigarette company -- and not an ashtray in the house.". Moreover, courts cannot rewrite a settlor's deed of trust or distort his language or the language of a statute in order to attain what is believed to be beneficial or wise or even what it is believed that the settlor would or should have provided if he possessed a knowledge of all presently existing circumstances. Two more Benson books are due out in June. ", Mother and daughter seemed to get along "fairly well," McCormick said, although Margaret Benson "always tried to belittle her daughter.". You're all set! There were particles of bodies and materials, and it looked like a bomb had dropped on the Suburban," Harold Younga, a retired homicide lieutenant with the Collier County sheriffs department, told producers of Oxygen's new series,"Florida Man Murders.". He was certainly no stranger to jailhouse violence, reportedly Benson was stabbed by another inmate in 1991. Kendall has properly argued that technically the trustees have breached the terms of the trust instrument by creating a "share" for Scott that was not a trust. The Inspector General's Office of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said its investigation is ongoing and it has not yet ruled whether the case is a homicide or suicide. Consequently, the beneficiaries, of which Kendall was one, could not assign or appoint nominees to receive that principal. In a rare moment of emotion during his trial, Steven Benson cries 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. He worked as a prosecutor in Lakeland where he met his future wife, Catherine Laich, who had gone to Florida Southern College in Lakeland, their daughter said. Carol is related to Richard David Benson and Jackie Ann Benson as well as 3 additional people. The toxicology report came back negative. 2010 -Mahmoud Gad acquitted on sexual battery charge when accused in 2008 of trying to rape his wifes friend. The uncontested report of the referee is approved and respondent is disbarred. "He didn't have any enemies," said one acquaintance. Bombardier Quest 650 . Mindful of this standard, we turn to the facts of the present case. 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