Dive into a gripping true crime story on the "MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories" where MrBallen takes listeners through the tragic murder of Stephanie Bennett in Raleigh, North Carolina. In this episode, listeners are presented with a chilling narrative that uncovers the series of events leading to the apprehension of a suspect in a crime that rocked a community.
Through methodical investigations and meticulous attention to detail, law enforcement struggles to piece together the clues left behind. The podcast takes you through the painstaking process of identifying viable suspects amidst a myriad of false leads and "peeping toms" across the apartment complex. Discover how Detective Ken Copeland, after taking the reins of the case, zeroes in on the elusive Drew Planton, whose disturbing actions prior to his death shuttered the case beyond the confines of the courtroom.
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Stephanie Bennett, a 23-year-old woman, is brutally murdered on April 26th, 2002, in her Raleigh apartment. She is found raped, bound, and strangled with a metal wire in her roommate’s bedroom. Lieutenant Chris Morgan leads the initial investigation, noting ligature marks on her body and the removed window screen, suggesting a possible entry point for the killer. Despite collecting DNA samples from male neighbors and looking for a "peeping tom", the initial evidence does not lead to any suspects.
Police delve into reports of "peeping toms" within the complex before Stephanie Bennett's murder. One "peeping tom" confronts before the incident, and another is seen peering into Stephanie's window before being reported to the apartment manager. Police arrest a peeping tom named Christopher Campen post-murder, but he is not the killer as his DNA doesn't match the crime scene. Detective Ken Copeland eventually takes over the investigation, re-interviewing residents and gaining information about another peeping tom who was seen watching the initial police activities.
Detective Copeland narrows in on Drew Planton as a suspect after learning he had a previous encounter with Stephanie and owned a Rottweiler. Planton's behavior raised suspicions, and a partial DNA match links him to the crime scene. Despite his refusal to cooperate during the trial and displaying evasive behavior, the case never reaches a verdict as Planton commits suicide in jail, leaving the case conclusively closed but without a traditional courtroom resolution.
1-Page Summary
On April 26th, 2002, Stephanie Bennett, a 23-year-old woman with the look of the perfect girl next door, was the victim of a brutal murder in her Raleigh apartment. She was found on the floor in her roommate's bedroom, having been bound, gagged, raped, and strangled to death.
Lieutenant Chris Morgan, head of the Violent Crimes Task Force in Raleigh, led the initial investigation after the apartment manager called 911. The killer had dragged Stephanie across the hall into her roommate’s bedroom after attacking her in her own. There, she was mercilessly left bound and gagged with her underwear stuffed in her mouth, raped, and killed with a long metal wire used to strangle her. Morgan noted ligature marks on Stephanie’s wrists and ankles from where she had been tied up and a dark purple mark around her neck signaling they had been strangled. Morgan also observed a number of photos on the wall in the room that depicted a different young woman, indicating that this was not Stephanie’s bedroom.
After taking a moment of silence for Stephanie, Morgan and his team began their search for DNA evidence that might lead them to the attacker. He discovered that the window's screen had been removed, suggesting it as a possible point of entry. His team collected DNA samples from male neighbors and looked for anyone matching the description they had of a potential peeping tom. However, Morgan faced disappointment as the initial DNA evidence did not lead to any suspects. He maintained close c ...
Stephanie Bennett is murdered in her apartment complex in Raleigh, North Carolina
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In their zeal to solve the murder of Stephanie Bennett, police investigators sift through sightings of "peeping toms" in the area to find a critical lead.
Residents had several unsettling encounters with "peeping toms" before the tragedy struck.
Before Stephanie’s murder, a man walking towards his apartment complex in Raleigh noticed someone lurking in the bushes peeping into a young girl's bedroom. This voyager promptly fled after being confronted. Similarly, one of Stephanie’s neighbors, having spotted a man in a hooded sweatshirt with his face pressed against Stephanie's bedroom window, called out, causing the intruder to run off. This neighbor responsibly informed Stephanie and her roommates about the occurrence and had already reported it to the apartment manager, advising a vigilant approach to locking doors and closing blinds. This warning came about a month before Stephanie’s murder. Adding to the concern, another resident saw a peeping tom at Stephanie's window but could only describe the figure as a large, Caucasian male with short hair.
Police efforts to catch Stephanie’s killer led to the arrest of Christopher Campen, a peeping tom caught spying on a woman as she showered. However, Lieutenant Morgan found discrepancies. Campen's scattered demeanor during interrogation set him apart from the profile of an individual capable of perpetrating a crime as calculated as Stephanie’s murder. Morgan speculated the existence of multiple peeping toms, considering that Campen might not be the murderer. Ultimately, Christopher, although arrested, was cleared as his DNA did not match the samples collected at the crime scene.
Police investigate multiple "peeping toms" seen around the complex, hoping to find Stephanie's killer
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Detective Copeland identified Drew Planton as the likely murderer of Stephanie, revealing details about their brief interaction, the evidence that linked him to the crime, and his subsequent behavior in court and jail.
Drew Planton had a brief encounter with Stephanie, where she petted his Rottweiler about a month before her murder. A neighbor who routinely observed the community gave Detective Copeland information about Drew and mentioned he used to live nearby and owned a pet Rottweiler. Intrigued by this information and noting Drew's suspicious behavior of watching the police from a distance, Copeland grew to suspect Drew could be the killer.
Drew's stalking behavior intensified after their initial encounter, as he spied on Stephanie through her bedroom windows. The detailed description of the killer's actions suggests a premeditated plan, indicating that the killer had been watching Stephanie closely. A partial DNA sample from a fork used by Planton eventually matched the evidence at the crime ...
Copeland identifies suspect Drew Planton, who police believe stalked and killed Stephanie
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