In the quiet town of Elkhart, Indiana, the life of 22-year-old Haley Nicole Smith was tragically cut short on the night of February 12, 2022. A free-spirited individual with a love for reading and sunflowers, Haley was working the closing shift at a local Papa John's restaurant alongside her fiancé, 37-year-old Dustin Carr. The following morning, a fellow employee arriving to open the store made a grim discovery: the bodies of both Haley and Dustin. They had been fatally shot in what prosecutors would later describe as a targeted killing.
The investigation swiftly focused on a former employee, 19-year-old Jose Benitez-Tilley. It was revealed that he had visited the restaurant on the evening of the murders, reportedly asking for his job back. Surveillance footage captured his vehicle, a gold Dodge Caravan, entering and leaving the parking lot multiple times that night. According to court documents, another employee who left earlier in the evening recalled that only Haley, Dustin, and Benitez-Tilley remained at the restaurant. This witness also mentioned that there had been previous, unspecified issues with Benitez-Tilley.
Following his arrest, Jose Benitez-Tilley confessed to the murders. He admitted to shooting both Haley and Dustin with a handgun. In a disturbing admission, he also told investigators that he had partially disrobed Haley's body and attempted to have sexual intercourse with her after she was deceased. He further stated that he tried to dispose of the bodies but was physically unable to do so. Before fleeing the scene, he stole Haley's purse, jewelry from Dustin, and cash from the restaurant's office.
Jose Benitez-Tilley was charged with two counts of murder and one count of attempted abuse of a corpse. In a plea agreement, the charge of attempted abuse of a corpse was dismissed. In July 2022, he was sentenced to 65 years in prison for each count of murder, with the sentences to be served concurrently. This represented the maximum sentence allowed under state law without aggravating circumstances. The community mourned the loss of the newly engaged couple, remembering Haley for her infectious personality and as a generous soul. Friends and family held a candlelight vigil and a celebration of life to honor her memory.
