The heart-wrenching tragedy that befell the Benoit family two years ago in Lake View has reached a somber conclusion as four individuals involved in the killing of Brenden Benoit were sentenced on Tuesday. The defendants, who had previously agreed to plea deals, received sentences based on their level of involvement in the luring and deadly ambush of Benoit. The sentences ranged from 25 years to time served.
The courtroom was filled with raw emotion as Arlene Borowiec, Brenden's mother, bravely shared her ongoing suffering and sleepless nights. She revealed that her youngest son had believed he was invited to a bonfire by a girl he was interested in. However, instead of a joyful gathering, he was ambushed and brutally attacked.
Borowiec described the pain and despair of losing her baby, stating, "A plan born of jealousy with purely evil intent," echoing the sentiments of Edward Benoit, Brenden's father.
The tragic incident occurred on July 10th, 2022, when Brenden's lifeless body was discovered off Heltz Road in Hamburg. He had been stabbed in the leg and left to bleed out in the woods. Prosecutors revealed that his backpack and personal items were burned, and a watch and ring were stolen in an attempt to conceal the crime.
The following day, the Erie County District Attorney's Office announced the arrest of six individuals in connection with the case. Jared M. Adamski, a resident of Hamburg, admitted in a plea deal that he was the one who stabbed Benoit, while Harrison J. Drozen, hailing from North Carolina, and Conner Krone assisted in the ambush, which was orchestrated based on a false accusation.
Kayleigh A. Skybyk-Schuh, also from Hamburg, Elexus Dean, and a youthful offender pleaded guilty to their involvement in the crime in May 2024, just before the trial was set to begin. Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael Keane expressed outrage on behalf of Brenden's parents, emphasizing that the tragedy stemmed from a lie. Skybyk-Schuh had falsely accused Benoit of sexually assaulting her, leading to the deadly ambush. However, evidence and testimony presented during the proceedings indicated that the accusation was unfounded and the Hamburg Police Department's investigation yielded no evidence to support the claim.
During the sentencing, Skybyk-Schuh's attorney questioned the findings and claimed that her client had experienced real trauma. However, Judge Kenneth Case found it difficult to comprehend why Skybyk-Schuh would invite Benoit to a bonfire if the assault had truly occurred. He believed that the allegation had been given appropriate consideration. Skybyk-Schuh offered an apology in court, stating that she never intended for anyone to die.
Jared Adamski and Harrison Drozen also expressed remorse and offered apologies for their actions. However, Judge Case emphasized that their apologies could not undo the gravity of the situation. Adamski was sentenced to 25 years in prison, with an additional 5 years of post-release supervision for one count of first-degree manslaughter. Drozen, who cooperated with prosecutors, received the minimum sentence of 12 years allowed under his plea deal.
Krone was sentenced to time served plus probation for assault and also cooperated with the District Attorney's office. Skybyk-Schuh received a 10-year sentence for manslaughter, along with concurrent time for tampering with evidence. The fifth defendant, Elexus O. Dean, did not appear in court as her attorney failed to inform her of the sentencing date. Dean now resides out of state.
Judge Case expressed his disbelief that such a tragic outcome resulted from what he described as "childish high school stuff." Judge Case expressed relief and gratitude for a crucial witness, Gabriel, who knew about the ambush but called the Hamburg Police to report it. Acting DA Keane acknowledged that without Gabriel's intervention they might never have known the truth about what happened to Brenden.
Arlene Borowiec, Brenden's mother, shared her final hope for her son, stating, "My hopes of Brenden's last memories were of the skyline and the trees where he was left and not the faces of the people that have harmed him."
Four Defendants Sentenced for Killing Teen Who was Lured Into the Woods.