Djuna Joann Benjamin, a 48-year-old resident of Rialto, California, was found dead on May 4, 2012, in San Bernardino. Authorities responded to a shots-fired call in the early morning hours and eventually discovered her body in an alley in the 2000 block of Western Avenue. Benjamin had suffered upper body trauma, and she was pronounced dead at the scene.
At the time of the report, police had not identified any suspects or motives related to her death, leaving the case unsolved amidst a particularly violent period in San Bernardino, which saw eight homicides in just nine days during late April and early May of 2012.
Benjamin's homicide was one of many that contributed to the high murder rate in San Bernardino in 2012. The city experienced a total of 47 homicides that year, representing a significant increase from the 30 homicides in 2011. Police have noted that many of these incidents were gang-related, while others resulted from disputes that escalated into violence. Despite efforts from the police, many of these cases, including Benjamin's, remain unsolved, reflecting the ongoing challenges the community faces in reducing violent crime and improving public safety in San Bernardino (SBCSentinel).
