The Murder of Faye Bennett
For this case, I watched an episode of Frenemies: Loyalty Turned Lethal. It’s season 1 episode 3, titled ‘Lion’s Den.’
A young pregnant woman is lured to her death by someone she trusted.
Background
Faye Bennett was born on July 20, 1984.
In 1991, her family moved to Durham, Connecticut. Faye graduated high school in 2002, and had a dream of one day being a hair stylist.
Faye was described as fiery as her red hair. She was outgoing, independent, and had a free spirit.
Faye Bennett
The Best Friend
After Faye moved to Connecticut, she met a girl named Jennifer Helmedach. Jennifer was described as the opposite of Faye. Jennifer kept to herself, and was a follower. Despite this, the two became best friends, and stayed that way into adulthood.
After high school, Faye was working to achieve her dreams. Jennifer on the other hand, had gotten pregnant at 18, and fell in with a bad crowd. Jennifer’s boyfriend David Bell, was known for being a drug dealer, and had robbed people in the past.
Faye tried to talk Jennifer into leaving David, but she was in love. After she had her daughter, Jennifer asked Faye to loan her money. Faye did, and many people warned her to keep her distance. Faye didn’t want to abandon her friend, and helped her when she could.
A Dark Turn
In March 2004, Faye began dating a man named Kewan. They moved in together, and Faye became pregnant, and was expecting a boy.
While Faye’s future was looking up, Jennifer was agreeing to help David plan a robbery. They picked a random couple to rob. David attacked them with a hammer, and they stole their jewelry. Jennifer then took the jewelry to a pawn shop, and they received about $2,000.
After the robbery and attack, Jennifer and David went into hiding at their friend Sarah’s home for a few weeks. They were planning to leave town, but had already spent all the money.
Jennifer was the one who planned the attack on Faye. They needed someone they knew this time, and knew that Faye had a car, and possibly some money.
The Murders
On September 2, 2004, Jennifer called Faye, and asked her if she wanted to go shopping. Faye agreed, and they planned to meet at Sarah’s home, where Jennifer was staying.
At this point, Faye was 6 1/2 months pregnant. She arrived at the home, and was immediately attacked by David.
Faye handed over her car keys, and $430, but David had other plans. David pulled out a knife, and stabbed Faye in the throat.
Faye, fighting for her life, called out to Jennifer. Jennifer chose David over her best friend, and ran out to the car to wait, so that they could flee.
David stabbed Faye a few more times. Faye fought for her life, as well as the life of her unborn son. David smothered Faye with a pillow. Faye, and her unborn son, were both brutally taken away.
David then folded Faye’s body, and put her into a garbage bag that was already full of cat litter. Jennifer waited, and honked the horn at David several times. He then ran outside, covered in blood, and the two fled.
The Manhunt
A few hours after Faye was killed, Jennifer and David’s friend returned home. She found the bag that contained Faye’s body, and she called 911.
When the police arrived, they spoke to the friend, and several neighbors, who had seen a woman waiting outside in the car. At first, the body inside the home was mistaken to be Jennifer’s, and an Amber Alert was put out for Jennifer’s 1-year-old daughter, Ayanna. It was soon apparent the body was Faye Bennett’s, and that Jennifer was involved.
An APB (all points bulletin) was put out for Jennifer and David, and for Faye’s car. The police were also able to trace phone calls, that led them to the Bronx, in New York City, where they had been hiding.
At the police station, David admitted to planning the robbery, and murder. He said that he killed Faye because he didn’t want to leave any witnesses behind.
Jennifer claimed that she had no idea that David was planning to kill Faye.
The Convictions
In May 2006, David Bell was found guilty of first degree murder, robbery, and assault of a pregnant woman. He was sentenced to 85 years.
Jennifer Helmedach was convicted of robbery and felony murder. She was sentenced to 35 years. She claimed David was abusive. and that she was under duress.
Jennifer Helmedach
David Bell
Other
The Connecticut Supreme Court vacated Jennifer’s conviction. At that point, she had served 11 1/2 years in prison.
The court said that Jennifer’s lawyers should have told her about a plea deal offer, before she testified in court.
From the information I’ve read, Jennifer is still in prison.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Jennifer is a shitty person for choosing her shitty boyfriend over her former friend. Whether or not David was abusive, Jennifer still chose to lure Faye over. Maybe she didn’t know that David planned to kill her, but she should have known what he was capable of. She let her friend, and her friend’s unborn son die. She deserves a lot longer than 11 years in prison, but that’s just my opinion.
David has no remorse for what he did, and hopefully he’ll be locked up forever.
Sources
https://www.thehour.com/norwalk/article/Woman-gets-35-years-in-slaying-that-prompted-8274428.php
https://www.newstimes.com/news/article/Man-convicted-of-stabbing-woman-to-death-111095.php
