Keaira Bennefield: Mom-of-3 allegedly shot dead by husband a day after he was charged with domestic violence
BUFFALO, NEW YORK: A New York woman was allegedly shot dead by her estranged husband who was arrested on the previous day on the charges of domestic violence, police say. Keaira Hudson Bennefield, 40, who was also a mother of three, was fatally shot on Wednesday, October 5, as she sat inside her car outside her mother's home. The shooting was witnessed by two of her children who were in the back seat of the car. Police have issued an arrest warrant for Keaira's estranged husband, Adam Bennefield, in connection to the shooting.
Adam allegedly assaulted Keaira for which he was arrested but he was released from jail short after on the same day. According to People, on September 28, officers from the Cheektowaga Police Department responded to a domestic violence call at a home. Bennefield already fled the scene by the time police arrived. Keaira was advised by the officers to contact them if he returned.
READ MORE
Who is Billie Jo Howell? Quinton Simon’s grandmom confronts babysitter, screams 'my baby's not dead'
Keaira posted a video of the assault on her Facebook page on the next day. Police officers arrested Bennefield and charged him with one count of third-degree assault, two counts of fourth-degree criminal mischief, one count of second-degree menacing, one count of second-degree unlawful imprisonment and one count of second-degree harassment after they saw the video on October 2. However, he was released on his own recognizance just hours after his arrest. Based on the court records, Bennefield does not have any attorney to speak on his behalf and has not yet entered a plea to the charges.
Adam allegedly shot his wife in the head and has been on the run since. Police are still trying to find him and said Adam is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is urged to call Crime Stoppers WNY at 716-867-6161. A $7,500 reward is being offered for information that leads to his arrest.
The search for Adam Bennefield, 45, continues. @DAErieCountyNY says Bennefield is a suspect in the homicide of Keaira Bennefield, 40, & @BPDAlerts, federal, and state agencies are looking for him. @crimestoppersb is offering a $7500 reward. I'll have the latest at 5&6 @WGRZ. pic.twitter.com/Fg6DHehtYI
— Kelly Dudzik (@kellydudzikWGRZ) October 7, 2022
MEAWW previously reported that a Michigan man accused of violently torturing his girlfriend was released on bond and within days allegedly murdered her and his stepfather, stabbed his mother with a butcher’s knife, and dropped his baby out of a window. Police say the string of violence began on June 2, when 23-year-old Jonathan Welch allegedly attacked his girlfriend, Zlayiah Frazier, 22, with whom he shared his house. Welch reportedly strangled the woman with an extension cord, doused her with gasoline, burned her using a scalding spatula, and sexually assaulted her with a pole.
He had been initially charged with three counts of first-degree murder, three counts of assault with intent to murder, one count of second-degree arson, seven counts of felonious assault, and six counts of felony firearm. Welch appeared in court for a preliminary hearing on the original charges. According to a written statement from Frazier, he woke up the victim at 3 am and began to sexually assault her while demanding the password to her phone as he was upset about Frazier possibly talking to someone else and he wanted to see her conversations. When she refused, he began to torture her while their child lay in the other room, a detective said in court on Monday, August 22, during a preliminary hearing.