A Florida sheriff called the murder of Tshey Bennett, 26, as “chilling” after the suspect’s Google search history was uncovered.
Willie Richard Ellington, 20, who was stationed at NAS Pensacola on Florida’s Gulf Coast, was charged with first-degree murder and possession of child pornography Wednesday in connection to her killing.
The arrest came after the 26-year-old woman’s body was discovered in a pond more than 50 miles away in an abandoned neighborhood in Mobile, Alabama, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Police suspect a PlayStation power cord was used to kill her but are still awaiting an official determination from an autopsy.
In an interview with The Independent on Friday, Sheriff Chip W. Simmons reported finding “chilling” Google searches on Ellington’s phone before meeting with Bennett.
“Throughout the investigation, we completed ten total search warrants on cars, hotel rooms, and phones, and we discovered that the suspect had Googled, prior to his encounter with the victim, things such as ‘What does a dead body look like after two days?’, ‘How many prostitute murders go unsolved?’, and ‘If you’re strangled can you still scream?'”
Investigators also discovered child pornography on his phone, which led to the additional charges.
Deputies tracked Ellington down after receiving anxious calls from family members on Dec 14, who discovered that her phone had been disconnected and was out of battery.
Deputies were dispatched to the Sweet Dreams Inn, where she was thought to be.
There, they discovered the hotel room door open, Bennett’s car parked outside, two smartphones in the room, a PlayStation cord, and the bedding entirely stripped and removed.
Investigators obtained video surveillance that showed a rental car leaving the hotel, which they traced to Ellington, an active-duty Marine at the military base NAS Pensacola.
Authorities determined Ellington left Pensacola before traveling to Alabama, and his phone disconnected and reconnected as he left Mobile.
Investigators went to Mobile and discovered Bennett’s body.
Law enforcement personnel in Opelika detained Ellington as he was leaving Alabama on a bus, and he was found in possession of a Playstation system without the cord, Simmons said.
“The autopsy will be conducted today, therefore we do not yet know the specific cause of death. However, based on Google searches, the cord left in the hotel room could have been used during the crime.
Commenting on how the pair made contact, Simmons said: “Our best bet is that he Googled escort services and was able to arrange it through the internet, through social media.”
Police suspect the 26-year-old woman stayed at the Sweet Dreams Inn for a few days before meeting Ellington, who traveled to meet her at the location she supplied to him.
Ellington is scheduled to be extradited to Florida.
“Training Command is aware of the ongoing investigation and is committed to working closely with local authorities to support their efforts,” said a military official.