Updated: Multiple guns found with suspect accused of killing his parents, police say
A man accused of killing his parents was taken into custody Tuesday night, and investigators later found multiple guns and body armor in his vehicle, according to the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office.
Joseph L. Benge, a 40-year-old London resident, was arrested Tuesday night by Kentucky State Police after his parents were found dead in their living room by another family member Tuesday, Deputy Gilbert Acciardo said. Johnny Benge, 69, and Mary Benge, 66, both had multiple gunshot wounds, Acciardo said.
Joseph Benge fled the home on Tomcat Trail about 5 miles East of London in the family’s white 2015 Ford Taurus, Acciardo said. Officials began searching for the car and tracked Benge’s cell phone to Mayfield, Acciardo said.
Benge was found with a gun by Kentucky State Police in Mayfield, Acciardo said. Police pulled him over and took him into custody without further incident, Acciardo said.
The sheriff’s office impounded the Ford Taurus and searched it Wednesday afternoon after getting a warrant. They found a handgun in the passenger compartment as well as two shotguns, a .22 caliber rifle and body armor.
Benge was charged with two counts of murder, one count of robbery and auto theft over $10,000. Laurel County officials picked Benge up from Mayfield and returned him to Laurel County Wednesday, Acciardo said.
The search for Benge wasn’t a first. Golden Alerts were issued for him after he went missing in 2018 and 2019, but he returned home safely both times, according to WKYT. When he went missing last year, the television station reported that he suffers from mental disabilities.
This story was originally published September 15, 2020 at 10:33 PM.
CORRECTION: The agency which took the suspect into custody was misidentified in a previous version of this story.
