Benny Scott Murder – 77-year-old Benny Scott went missing from his home in Lake Alfred, Florida, in January 2012. Tragically, Police discovered Benny’s remains buried beneath a shallow grave on his own property.
The Investigation Discovery’s crime series ‘Deadly Women‘ Season 10 Episode 2, “Granny Gets a Gun,” recounts this shocking event and follows the police investigation that ultimately led to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. If you want to learn more about Benny Scott’s murder and her killer wife’s current whereabouts, keep reading below to get answers.
Official Synopsis:
“A woman disapproves of her granddaughter’s new boyfriend and plots to eliminate him; a man pays for his wife’s expensive secret with his life; a woman takes matters into her own hands after her retired husband falls ill.”
Who was Benny Scott and How Did He Die?
Benny Scott, 77 years old and a resident of Lake Alfred, was tragically taken away at his home. People who knew him described him as an uplifting individual with a kind heart who earned respect in his community. Benny had a reputation for helping those in need, and his friendly demeanour allowed him to maintain positive relationships with many. Living with his wife – whom neighbours believed had a happy marriage – the Scott family had earned high regard in the town; their sudden tragedy was a complete shock to everyone involved.
Benny vanished a few days after January 1, 2012, and no one reported him missing. Despite concerns from family and friends, there was always some plausible explanation that seemed plausible at the time. Since Benny’s disappearance was never reported to authorities, an effort was needed to locate him.
On March 26th, Benny’s daughter Sonya Braudway went to the police station and revealed where her father had been buried. This shocking admission led them to a shallow grave in Benny’s backyard, where they discovered human remains belonging to Benny Scott. Though his body had been covered with a tarp, investigators discovered Benny had been restrained before burial. An autopsy confirmed he had been shot at close range – evidence of homicide.
Later it was discovered that the .22-caliber revolver found in Scott’s drawer had been stolen from the garage of an Oklahoma relative’s house, where Barbara and Benny Scott had stayed during a visit in December 2011.
Who Killed Benny Scott and What was the Reason Behind?
After Benny’s daughter Sonya Braudway alerted police of her father’s burial location, an investigation began into his disappearance. Although Benny hadn’t been reported missing to authorities, police discovered that several close friends and family members had been asking about him. Additionally, Barbara Scott kept making excuses for her husband’s absence which raised suspicion. Moreover, Barbara’s story kept changing, which raised further doubts about her involvement in Benny’s disappearance.
In March 2012, Barbara attempted to sell some of her husband’s belongings at a garage sale, which her daughter Sonya noticed. When confronting Barbara about this decision, Barbara finally admitted to burying Benny in their backyard grave. Sonya then took her mother to the police station and requested they search for Benny’s remains, which were discovered among some neatly maintained herbs in the Scott backyard garden. Barbara was the only person who knew where Benny had been interred, so she became an important person of interest in the investigation into his whereabouts.
Detectives discovered that Barbara and Benny’s relationship had become strained before Benny passed away, with Barbara complaining about having to care for her husband. Additionally, there were allegations that Barbara was interested in multiple life insurance policies. Furthermore, an investigation revealed that Barbara was found with a handgun matching Benny’s murder weapon – leading to her immediate arrest for Benny’s slaying.
How Did Killer Barbara Scott Die?
Barbara initially denied any guilt in court, claiming Benny had taken his own life and she had buried his body while grieving. However, forensic evidence indicated otherwise, and after deliberating for five hours, the jury found her guilty of first-degree premeditated murder and tampering with evidence. She was sentenced to life in prison without parole in 2014, along with a concurrent 5-year term.
Unfortunately, on February 21, 2015, while serving her sentence at Lowell Correctional Institution in Leesburg, Florida, Barbara suffered a heart attack that immediately sent her to Ocala Regional Medical Center, where she died at about 9:30 a.m.
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