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The man who helped kidnap and murder a teenage sexual assault victim has died with his federal trial mere months away. Federal prosecutors in the Western District of Michigan said that Gerald Bennett, 63, was admitted to a hospital for cancer treatment on Nov. 7. His health only got far worse the next day and medical staff put him on life support. He died Monday.
Gerald Bennett helped murder Mujey Dumbuya, prosecutors said. (Image of Bennett: Neil Blake /The Grand Rapids Press via AP; image of Dumbuya: Cory Morse/The Grand Rapids Press via AP)
The is simply the latest and final bump in the road for his case that all started with Quinn Anthony James, 48, sexually abusing Mujey Dumbuya when she 15. The teenager, however, stepped forward to reveal what he did. James faced charges, but instead of simply going to trial, he escalated matters by recruiting Bennett to help him silence the child.
The men abducted her, now 16, from a bus stop on Jan. 4, 2018. Her body was found days later in a wooded area in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Quinn Anthony James, pictured here, recruited Gerald Bennett to help murder Mujey Dumbuya, prosecutors said. (Mug shot: Michigan Department of Corrections)
The state court charged the men for the murder, and though James was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for what he did, Bennett’s story became a lot more complicated. His state case was dismissed after a court deemed him incompetent for trial.
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State and federal investigators did not buy it, however. They took the case to the U.S. Department of Justice, who charged him for the kidnapping. He was later indicated in federal court.
A forensic psychologist examined him at a federal prison and determined he was faking his incompetence. He also admitted to other jail inmates that he was faking, authorities said.
Furthermore, while in custody awaiting the competency hearing, he tried to plot another murder-for-hire to kill a key witness, authorities said.
A magistrate judge eventually ruled him competent to stand trial, clearing the way for jurors to decide his fate. All that changed on Nov. 7 when Bennett was taken to a hospital for cancer treatment.
His health only got far worse the next day and medical staff put him on life support before he was pronounced dead earlier this week.
“The allegations in this case were heinous and I deeply regret we will never present the evidence against Mr. Bennett in open court,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten of the Western District of Michigan. “At best, our efforts can secure only a measure of justice. We can’t bring Mujey back. But the truth-telling role of a conviction matters. I am grateful for the investigators who worked for years to secure justice and my heart remains with her family as they mourn the loss of one they dearly loved.”
“I commend the dedicated men and women of the investigative and prosecutorial teams for their continued pursuance of justice for the victims and their families in this case,” stated Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “While the defendant’s case will not be brought before the court due to his untimely passing, the FBI, alongside our local and state law enforcement partners remain committed in using our collective resources to hold those individuals responsible who conspire or commit violent acts in our communities.”
