A former Florida police officer who spent two decades in law enforcement has been sentenced to death for murdering a man he viewed as a romantic rival.
Otto Lenke, 67, was convicted in May of first-degree murder with a firearm and first-degree arson of a structure in connection with the February 17, 2021, killing of 57-year-old Richard Benson.
Circuit Court Judge Michael Linn handed down the death sentence on October 14, describing the murder as the result of a carefully planned attack.
According to the judge, Lenke had carried out a calculated scheme to kill Benson in what he characterized as one of the most cruel and disturbing ways imaginable.
The case centered on an alleged love triangle involving Benson, Lenke, and Lisa Diggs, a woman prosecutors said Lenke had previously been romantically involved with.
How Investigators Identified the killer
The investigation took a significant turn when Diggs watched surveillance footage and recognized what she believed was Lenke’s motorcycle helmet and his distinctive walk.
She told investigators that she had initially become friends with Lenke after her husband died of cancer seven years earlier.
However, prosecutors alleged that their relationship became strained as Diggs developed a relationship with Benson.
Prosecutors describe a brutal murder
The details outlined in the case paint a disturbing picture of the final moments of Benson’s life.
According to the sentencing order, Lenke shot Benson three times, striking him in the back and chest. He then poured two containers of denatured alcohol over the victim and set him on fire, despite Benson still being alive.
Prosecutors alleged that Lenke had taken steps to avoid detection before carrying out the attack. He reportedly used his daughter’s Pontiac Bonneville to travel to Benson’s business and left his cellphone at home.
However, the phone was later tracked to an area of the Indian River Lagoon near Sebastian. Police also recovered a .40-caliber Glock firearm at that location.
Lenke’s background in law enforcement became another focus of the prosecution’s case.
Assistant State Attorney Brandon White told TCPalm that Lenke had relied on his “knowledge and that experience” as a police officer “to try to get away with this crime,” but had ultimately “made mistakes.”
“He did a horrific act”
After considering the evidence presented during the trial, the jury voted 11-1 in favor of the death penalty.
Judge Linn subsequently issued the sentence, stating that his own assessment of the case supported the same outcome.
“The court’s independent evaluation of this case herein leads to the conclusion that the death sentence is appropriate and a just sentence for the murder of Richard Benson.
“Therefore, Otto Lenke, I hereby sentence you to death for the first-degree murder of Richard Benson.”
White also spoke about the significance of the decision for Benson’s family, saying the case had remained unresolved for years.
“He did a horrific act he’s going to pay the price. And up until the day that he dies, he’s going to be in solitary confinement. This is justice. For years, this case has been pending and today, the family of Richard Benson got justice. So, I’m very, very relieved for that,” he said, according to LADbible.
Although Lenke has received a death sentence, the legal process is not yet complete. Under Florida law, the Florida Supreme Court must review the conviction before the death sentence can be carried out.
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