On November 8, 2021, officers responded to a travel trailer on fire near the intersection of 35th Avenue South and Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota. After the fire was put out, officers found the body of an adult female (“Victim”). The Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office was later able to identify Victim based on responses to a press release. Victim was approximately seven months pregnant.
Victim’s body was partially sitting against a cabinet in the trailer. The fire inspector examined the trailer and detected combustible gas on a mattress and on Victim’s body.
Officers interviewed witnesses from the area and learned that a woman had been seen driving a black Tahoe with the trailer attached. One of the witnesses stated the woman in the black Tahoe asked her for a cigarette and the witness gave her one. Shortly thereafter, the witness saw the trailer on fire.
Minneapolis Police Department investigators tracked the history of the trailer and determined that on September 11, 2021, it had been sold to a man and woman matching the descriptions of Defendants herein, SHANNON MICHAEL BENSON and JADE MONET RISSELL. Officers showed photos of Defendants to the seller of the trailer and the woman from whom Defendant RISSELL had bummed a cigarette on November 8, and both witnesses confirmed the identity of both Defendants.
Investigators interviewed persons close with Victim. They learned that Victim had been reported missing in Anoka sometime between October 29-31, 2021. Victim’s boyfriend stated that he had attempted to locate her using the “Tile” app that tracks lost keys. On October 31, 2021, the Tile app had led Victim’s boyfriend to the area of 4th Avenue South and East 25th Street in Minneapolis. There, Victim’s boyfriend had taken a picture of the travel trailer that was burned on November 8, along with a black Tahoe and another, shorter travel trailer.
Investigators went to 4th Avenue South and East 25th Street and observed the Tahoe and the shorter trailer, in which Defendants were residing. They located Defendants and arrested them.
In a post-Miranda interview, Defendant RISSELL admitted to lighting the trailer on fire to cover up Victim’s body. She stated that approximately a week before the fire, she had lured Victim over Facebook to she and Defendant BENSON’S larger trailer (the one set on fire) at 4th Avenue South and East 25th Street, then assaulted her with brass knuckles, knocking her unconscious. She stated that Defendant BENSON was aware of this and they did not call 911. She stated they left Victim in the larger trailer for a few days, then she took the trailer to 35th and Hennepin to burn it.
After speaking with Defendant RISSELL, Investigators let Defendants sit in a room together while being recorded. Defendant RISSELL said to Defendant BENSON “they have too much information,” and “I told them it was me.” They then both started to cry. Defendant RISSELL asked Defendant BENSON to “make a bad joke,” and Defendant BENSON said “at least it’s not a sex crime.” Defendant RISSELL said “I’m going in for murder,” and Defendant BENSON said “me too.”
Both Defendants are in custody.
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