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| State executes inmate for raping, killing teen in 1987 |
| By Louisville Courier-Journal |
| Published: 04/22/2005 |
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The second execution in less than six weeks at the Indiana State Prison ended more than 16 years on death row for a man convicted of raping and killing a Terre Haute teenager. Prison officials reported that Bill Benefiel Jr., 48, died by injection at 12:35 a.m. Thursday. He had been convicted of holding 18-year-old Delores Wells captive for 12 days before killing her on Feb. 17, 1987. Wells' mother, Margaret Hagan, said she felt relief at Benefiel's execution. "I don't have to focus on him every day and wonder if someday he'll get out," she said. "I won't dwell on him anymore like I used to." Hagan said she was haunted by the memories of what Benefiel had done to her daughter. He held her captive for 12 days, raping her repeatedly. He then glued her eyes and nostrils shut and stuffed toilet paper in her mouth and taped it shut before taking her into woods outside Terre Haute, where he killed her and buried her. He also held Alicia Elmore, then of Terre Haute, captive for four months in the same house and raped her more than 60 times. She survived and testified against him. Benefiel spent a quiet day Wednesday watching television, and his only visitor was his attorney, prison officials said. |
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