In a shocking and disturbing case from Minnesota, a 37-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly murdering his female roommate in a brutal assault that left her skull exposed and blood spattered throughout their home—including on her 2-year-old daughter who was sleeping nearby.
Brutal Murder Disguised as Accident
The suspect, Shay Michael Benson, has been charged with second-degree murder with intent. He was arrested over the weekend in Richfield, a suburb just south of Minneapolis.
Police say Benson initially tried to claim the woman died from a fall in the shower. Around 5 a.m. on Sunday, he called 911 and told the dispatcher that his roommate was “laying in the shower” with her “head cracked open.”
However, when officers arrived, they quickly realised the injuries didn’t match his story.
Disturbing Scene Inside the House
According to the police report:
The woman was already dead when officers arrived.
She had a deep cut on her forehead, exposing her skull.
Her nose was broken, and both eyes were swollen shut and blackened.
Benson, who was still at the scene, had fresh injuries on his hands and was covered in blood. Police noted signs of a violent struggle in the basement area of the home where the victim and her daughter lived.
Blood Evidence Throughout the Home
Investigators found:
Blood trails from the stairs to the laundry room.
Spattered blood on walls, bookshelves, rugs, and tiles.
Attempts to clean the blood in some areas.
In the basement bedroom, police found the woman’s 2-year-old daughter asleep with blood stains on her arm. This added a heartbreaking element to an already horrific crime.
More shocking evidence included:
A blood-soaked floor in the basement bathroom.
A washing machine full of bloody clothes, including men’s sneakers, a torn black bra, and washcloths.
Blood around the washer’s door, suggesting someone tried to destroy evidence.
Surveillance Footage Raises More Questions
Security camera footage from a neighbour’s house showed:
Benson and the victim having a heated argument in the driveway around midnight.
The victim was not seen again after that.
Benson reappeared on the camera at around 3:30 a.m. wearing different shoes, and he was picked up and dropped off by an SUV.
All this contradicted Benson’s version of events, according to investigators.
Legal Action and Next Steps
Benson is currently being held at Hennepin County Jail on $1 million bond. He is expected to appear in court before Judge Daniel C. Moreno. The community and authorities alike are still reeling from the brutal nature of the crime.
