Washington Teen Admits Raping And Murdering Friend He'd Lured On Camping Trip
Benito Marquez has been sentenced to around 34 years for the brutal death of 16-year-old Ben Eastman III. Marquez's brother, Jonathan Adamson, will stand trial in the case in August.
One of two brothers accused of murdering a 16-year-old boy last year after luring him on a camping trip has pleaded guilty to his rape and murder.
Benito Marquez, of Lewis County, Washington pleaded guilty Friday to the first-degree rape and murder of 16-year-old Ben Eastman III, of Randle, Washington, KOMO News in Seattle reports.
He has been sentenced to slightly more than 34 years in prison. As part of his plea deal, he will not have to register as a sex offender when he is released from prison.
Marquez and his older brother, Jonathan Adamson, are accused of killing Eastman and burning his body in a shallow grave on the grandparents’ property, Oxygen.com reported previously.
"The two had planned on assaulting Eastman and lured him to a wooded area under the guise of a camping trip," charging documents stated. "Eastman went to the ground and the pair continued to kick and hit Eastman. It was estimated by Adamson the assault lasted between 20 and 45 minutes."
During the attack, the brothers allegedly sodomized the teen with a stick before killing him with a rock. Initially, Marquez posted concerned messages on Facebook regarding his missing friend’s whereabouts before his body was discovered. He also lied to police and told them Eastman never arrived to the property for their camping outing.
The siblings’ mother has also pleaded guilty to charges related to the murder of the teen. Kindra Adamson pleaded guilty to two counts of rendering criminal assistance last year for covering for her sons. She will not be sentenced until the conclusion of Adamson’s trial, which is set to begin in August.
Jonathon Adamson’s fiancee Emma Brown, is expected to plead to guilty to two counts of rendering criminal assistance next week, according to KOMO.
As for the recent sentencing of Marquez, the victim’s father is not impressed.
“I don’t agree with it. [It’s a] slap in the face,” B.J. Eastman told KOMO, referencing the length of the teen’s prison sentence. “It’s just not fair.”
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