Jymme L. Benson Murphy, a 28-year-old woman from Joliet, Illinois, tragically lost her life on July 28, 1997. She was the sister of Cindy Benson, who was killed by her estranged boyfriend, Charles Smith, earlier that day. Smith then drove to Jymme's home in Marseilles, Illinois, where he shot and killed Jymme, her husband James Murphy , and her niece Erica Benson . Smith also raped another niece, 13-year-old Cindy Benson's daughter, and attempted to strangle three young children before taking his own life.
The incident began when Smith and Cindy Benson got into an argument over finances, which led to Smith shooting Cindy in Joliet. After committing the murder, Smith placed Cindy's body in his car and drove to Marseilles, where he carried out the additional killings. The rampage ended when Smith hanged himself in the basement of the Murphy home.
Local authorities conducted autopsies on the victims, and the investigation revealed that Smith was under significant financial and personal stress at the time of the killings. He had recently lost his job, was facing water and telephone service cutoffs at his home, and his father was seriously ill. These factors contributed to Smith's violent outburst.
The tragic events left the community in shock and sorrow, as they grappled with the senseless loss of life and the devastating impact on the victims' families. The case highlighted the importance of addressing mental health and providing support to individuals facing significant life challenges.
