was an LDS church member in Hurricane, Utah; accused of sexual abuse of two teenage girls; allegedly faked a suicide to collect insurance money; was arrested and charged with murder and sexual abuse; died by suicide in jail while awaiting trial

Case report

Arthur Gus Bennett was an LDS church member in Hurricane, Utah. A source familiar with the case told FLOODLIT that a family member was one of the victims. Her father met Bennett in church. He abused her during sleepovers, the source said.

Bennett was an LDS member and US Marine who was accused and arrested for sexually abusing two teenage girls. Instead of facing the justice system, he reportedly burned his trailer down trying to collect on insurance money and attempting to fake his own death.

Bennett was arrested in Nevada for murder and was not released on bond.

While in custody, he died by suicide before he could be tried in court.

Case facts

Case information sources

  1. Child Molester Accused of Fraud and Murder
    view source details | 18 Oct 1998 | New York Times
  2. Arthur Bennett commits suicide in jail cell
    view source details | 13 Jul 1999 | Las Vegas Sun

Case information source details

  • Child Molester Accused of Fraud and Murder
    Publisher: New York Times
    Date: 18 Oct 1998
    Archive.org
    Source type: News article

    Child Molester Accused of Fraud and Murder
    Published: October 18, 1998

    LAS VEGAS, Oct. 17 — Prosecutors say they will seek the death penalty for a child molester who is accused of faking his own death in a trailer fire to collect on his insurance and escape sexual assault charges.

    The man, Arthur Gus Bennett, made his initial appearance on Friday before Judge Donald Mosley of State District Court. The judge set Mr. Bennett's arraignment for Oct. 29 to allow his public defenders time to study reports on DNA samples obtained by the prosecution.

    Mr. Bennett, 45, is being held without bond on Nevada charges of murder with a deadly weapon, first-degree arson, first-degree kidnapping with substantial bodily harm, insurance fraud, theft and sexual assault of a minor under 14.

    Chris Owens and David Schwartz, Clark County chief deputy district attorneys, said the state was seeking the death penalty because of aggravating circumstances surrounding the death of the unknown victim in the trailer fire on Feb. 3, 1994, at Lake Mead.

  • view all information sources
    Arthur Bennett commits suicide in jail cell
    Publisher: Las Vegas Sun
    Date: 13 Jul 1999
    Archive.org
    Source type: News article

    A Marine accused of faking his own death in a trailer fire five years ago apparently committed suicide in his jail cell, where he was awaiting court-martial on sexual assault charges.

    Bennett was scheduled to face a court-martial Wednesday on charges of sexually assaulting his young daughters and teen-agers of fellow Marines in Yuma, Ariz., and Okinawa, Japan.

    Bennett also faced murder and other charges in Las Vegas on allegations he faked his own death in February 1994 to escape a court-martial on charges of assaulting the teen-agers.

    Bennett was being held in military custody pending the outcome of the court-martial. He had been brought to Las Vegas from Yuma, Ariz., and was being detained in the Clark County Detention Center.

    As a result of the fire, Bennett faced a Feb. 7, 2000, trial here on charges including murder, arson, kidnapping, insurance fraud and theft. He had pleaded innocent to all counts.

    This week's court-martial was ordered during an Article 32 hearing earlier this year. The military equivalent of a preliminary hearing, it featured testimony from two of Bennett's daughters, his ex-wife, Amelia, and fellow Marines whose daughters were allegedly assaulted by Bennett.

    Bennett's 17-year-old daughter testified during the hearing that he sexually assaulted her "about every night" between 1995 and 1997, when the family lived in Hurricane.

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