Steven Benson, American convicted murderer, Died at 63

  Criminal

Steven Wayne Benson was born on July 26, 1951, and died on July 3, 2015.

He 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.

(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.) He was born in 1951 in Florida.

On July 9, 1985, Steven 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 was ultimately convicted of first degree murder, attempted first degree murder, arson of a dwelling.

He avoided the death penalty, and was sentenced to life in prison.

Steven was transferred to different prisons during his time, because of constant threats and abuse from other prisoners.

Because of the murder, Steven was attacked by other prisoners while serving his sentence in prison.

Steven Wayne Benson passed away in prison on July 3, 2015.