On September 16, 2016, Venancio Veracruz Benitez, a 59-year-old Hispanic male, was found deceased in a garage fire in Chicago's Heart of Chicago neighborhood. The fire occurred around 3 a.m. in the 2100 block of West 21st Street. Benitez, who resided on the same block, was pronounced dead at the scene. Initially, the cause and manner of his death were undetermined, but subsequent investigations concluded that he died from carbon monoxide toxicity due to inhalation of combustion products, and his death was ruled a homicide.
The fatal fire was one of seven arsons set that night in the area, all ignited in garbage cans or near garage walls. One significant blaze at 2272 South Blue Island Avenue spread to adjacent buildings, displacing 39 residents. Over 100 firefighters responded to these incidents, with one firefighter sustaining minor injuries.
In February 2017, Thomas Stafford, a 23-year-old male from the 1700 block of West 18th Place, was charged with first-degree murder and aggravated arson in connection with the fire that killed Benitez. Stafford had been arrested a month after the incident for possession of a stolen vehicle in an unrelated case and was serving a three-year sentence at the Lawrence Correctional Center when charged with the murder and arson. He remained in custody with a bond set at $750,000.
The death of Venancio Veracruz Benitez occurred during a particularly violent year in Chicago, which saw a significant spike in homicides. In 2016, the city experienced over 700 killings, marking a dramatic increase in gun violence and other violent crimes.
