The attack, made while the couple where walking in Lansdowne during the pre-dawn hours, took the life of William Bennett and left Cynthia Bennett in critical condition.
Recorded while the juvenile made a statement to investigators, the 2 ½ hour tape was not played at the preliminary hearing on Aug. 5. Capital murder charges against the juvenile defendant were amended, as the death penalty is not an option for juvenile offenders unless they were the “triggerman.” Virginia’s “Triggerman Rule” remains a hotly debated topic among legislators, and was an active issue in the Republican primary for the Attorney General nomination.
The youth allegedly told investigators that while he was the driver of the vehicle on the morning of the attack and assisted in the destroying evidence, he was not involved with the murder itself.
In a four-hour preliminary hearing on Wednesday, Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Jim Fisher clashed with attorneys for the youth, Kimberly Irving and Barry Zweig. Due to a technicality involving proof of the defendant’s age, charges were dismissed procedurally and the case was instead presented to a grand jury.
The grand jury indicted the juvenile for first degree murder and aggravated malicious wounding. He was also indicted for gang participation and malicious wounding by mob for his involvement in an assault on Feb. 28, during a fight between the 18th Street Gang, with which the juvenile was affiliated, and rival gang, MS-13.
Fisher told the Loudoun Independent, “At this point, we are in Circuit Court and we are pursuing the case aggressively and vigorously.”
Anthony Roberts, another suspect named in the Lansdowne attack, was the subject of multiple grand jury indictments stemming from his alleged involvement in several commercial burglaries in Middleburg, and Leesburg’s Loudoun Guns store. Roberts has been charged with six counts of breaking and entering with intent to commit a larceny, grand larceny, larceny with intent to sell, destruction of property, obstruction of justice, possession of child pornography and possession of a concealed weapon by a juvenile convicted felon—a total of 12 charges. It was the investigation into Roberts' criminal activity that lead to the July 22 arrest of Roberts’ uncle, William “Martin” Thomas on firearms and drug charges.
Roberts has not yet been charged in connection with the Lansdowne attack, although it is still believed that charges will be filed. A third suspect, Darwin Bowman, has already been charged with capital murder.
The Lansdowne attack occurred early in the morning on March 22, 2009. A resident of Rocky Creek Drive contacted the Sheriff’s Office shortly after 5:30 a.m., after observing a white panel van driving slowly in the neighborhood, stopping, driving down neighboring Riverside Parkway, returning and then driving off again. Originally responding to the report of a suspicious vehicle. Upon reaching the scene, Loudoun Sheriff’s deputies made a much more serious discovery.
The body of William Bennett, 57, was found on the side of the road; he had been severely beaten. As the sun began to rise, officers noticed blood on a white board fence on the opposite side of Riverside Parkway. Investigating what was potentially an extension of the crime scene, deputies discovered Bennett’s critically injured wife, Cynthia Bennett, lying in the woods.
The brutal attack on the Bennetts stunned the residents of Lansdowne and neighboring communities. Over 800 people attended a community meeting where the police shared information on the incident and responded to concerns about local safety. Over 100 locals attended a March 29 pre-dawn walk and vigil.
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