Joseph James Benson, 35, has been charged with one depend of second-degree homicide within the dying of his girlfriend, 38-year-old Samantha Keohne, who’s also referred to as “Panda.”

In line with a possible trigger affidavit, by way of Legislation&Crime and KSTP, the Pipestone County Sheriff’s Workplace responded to a doable home assault name on November 2, 2024. The decision got here from the house owner, who reportedly claimed Benson despatched her a message over Snapchat claiming he had killed Keohne.

When authorities arrived on the scene, they reportedly discovered Benson with scratches on his face, with the suspect claiming they have been from his girlfriend and that there was “a lifeless physique upstairs.” Inside the house, they reportedly discovered Keohne on the toilet flooring, with an extension wire wrapped round her legs, marks on her throat and blood in her hair and ear. The reason for dying was later decided as possible asphyxia and listed as a murder.

The property proprietor later spoke with investigators and allegedly claimed she requested Benson to remain at her house and deal with her pets whereas she was on trip in Florida. The lady stated she knew Koehne would even be staying on the home — including that she and Benson have been speaking each day over Snapchat.

However on November 2, the property proprietor stated Benson claimed he and Koehne had been arguing and she or he was “freaking out and needed to depart.” The house owner allegedly instructed them to chop it out, telling Benson, “I do not care what you must do, you get this taken care of.”

20 minutes later, Benson allegedly referred to as the house owner over Snapchat and stated, “Panda is gone,” when requested in regards to the scenario.

Benson allegedly instructed the house owner that Koehne “would not cease screaming” and he feared somebody would name police, saying, “I can not return to jail.”

On his cellphone, authorities say additionally they discovered textual content messages Benson despatched his ex-wife — together with one wherein he allegedly stated, “If ever you have been capable of be a buddy, please let or not it’s now there has by no means been a second in my life I’ve wanted you extra [than] this.”

“I want a buddy one thing occurred,” authorities say he added, earlier than telling her, “I can not say [what] … are you able to name me … its atomically dangerous.”

Investigators report additionally they discovered video Benson took of him arguing with Koehne the morning of her dying.

“Go for it, right here take a look at the bruises on my face from him beating me once more,” she stated to him within the footage, per court docket docs, as marks have been allegedly seen on her face. As she then adopted him inside the house, docs state she was then heard pleading, “Cease, please cease. I did not inform anyone; I did not inform anyone,” whereas crying and showing unable to face.

She additionally allegedly requested Benson to name 911, saying, “I did not inform anyone” — earlier than he is quoted as telling her, “You actually tried to interrupt in.”

Benson’s subsequent court docket look has been set for December 10. He is presently being held at Pipestone County Jail on $100,000 bond.