Carlos Benito, a 44-year-old Black male, was found dead on May 9, 2021, in a residence located in the 400 block of South Glenwood Avenue, Columbus, Ohio. The Columbus Police Department responded to a report of a break-in at the residence and discovered Benito and another individual, Jeremy Bickerstaff, 42, with apparent gunshot wounds. Both men were pronounced dead at the scene.
Another man was also found shot inside the house but survived his injuries.
The investigation revealed that Benito had been involved in a drug and human trafficking ring operated by Anthony Rogers, 38, and Jami Sherrill, 35. On the day of the incident, Rogers went to the residence to help Benito clean up the scene of another shooting. Benito had shot Bickerstaff earlier, and when Rogers arrived, he shot Benito and the other man before fleeing the scene with Sherrill.
Anthony Rogers was later arrested and charged with multiple offenses, including aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault, and having weapons under disability. However, he entered a guilty plea to a count of involuntary manslaughter for the death of Carlos Benito. As part of his plea agreement, the other charges were dismissed. Rogers was sentenced to 12 years in prison for his role in the killing.
Jami Sherrill, who assisted Rogers in running the trafficking ring, was also arrested and sentenced to a term of 28 to 33 ½ years in prison. The case highlighted the dangerous and violent nature of the criminal activities in which Benito, Rogers, and Sherrill were involved. The Columbus Police Department continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths and the broader criminal network associated with the trafficking ring.
