Murder of Ella Bennett
| Murder of Ella Bennett | |
|---|---|
| Location | Abilene, Texas, U.S. |
| Date | February 4, 2007 c. 11:30 p.m. (CST) |
Attack type | Child-on-child murder by stabbing, strangulation, sororicide, child rape |
| Weapon | Knife |
| Victim | Ella Bennett, aged 4 |
| Perpetrator | Paris Lee Bennett |
| Motive | Revenge against his mother |
| Verdict | Pleaded guilty |
| Convictions | Capital murder |
| Sentence | 40 years in prison (parole possible after 20 years) |
On February 4, 2007, Paris Lee Bennett, a 13-year-old American, murdered his 4-year-old sister, Ella Bennett, in Abilene, Texas. Paris stabbed Ella 17 times.
The motive for the murder was Paris' resentment towards his mother, Charity Bennett, as he believed the best way to emotionally damage her was to take away one of her children.
Paris pleaded guilty in juvenile court to capital murder, and was given the maximum sentence of 40 years in prison, with the possibility of parole after 20 years. Following the murder, Paris was diagnosed as a sociopath.
The murder has gained extensive attention due to its circumstances, as well as the ages of both the perpetrator and the victim.