In the winter of 2020, the life of 19-year-old Seth Barton was tragically cut short in his hometown of Muncie, Indiana. On the morning of January 9th, Muncie police were dispatched to an apartment complex on West White River Boulevard after reports of gunfire. Upon arrival, they discovered Seth Barton, a male, who had sustained a gunshot wound. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, but his injuries proved to be fatal.
Investigators began to piece together the events of that morning through
witness accounts. It was revealed that two individuals, Kevoszia Winston and Dimorrea Benning, had been at the apartment earlier in the day for what was described as a prearranged drug transaction. The two later returned, uninvited, and proceeded to rob the occupants of the apartment at gunpoint, taking money, guns, and a bag. During the robbery, Seth was reportedly asleep in a recliner.
According to a witness, as Winston and Benning were preparing to leave, Winston pointed his gun at the sleeping Seth Barton and fired a single shot. One account suggests Winston had tried to wake Seth before the fatal shot, expressing a desire for the victim to see his face and know who was responsible. When Seth did not awaken, Winston allegedly shot him as he departed. This act of violence turned a robbery into a homicide investigation.
The investigation quickly led to the identification of Kevoszia Winston and Dimorrea Benning as the primary suspects. Two days after the shooting, on January 11th, Winston was located and apprehended in Anderson. Authorities also arrested two other individuals who admitted to helping Winston hide from the police. Dimorrea Benning was also taken into custody. Both Winston and Benning faced charges of murder and armed robbery for their roles in the death of Seth Barton. In April 2022, a jury found Kevoszia Winston guilty of murder and robbery resulting in serious bodily injury. The following month, he was sentenced to 58 years in prison for his crimes.
