Wife of man who faked death takes plea

Greg Tuttle

Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2000 | 10:42 a.m.

The ex-wife of a man who staged his own death and, after he was caught years later, committed suicide in jail pleaded guilty Monday in U.S. District Court.

Amelia Bennett, 47, entered the plea nearly seven years after her then-husband, Marine Staff Sgt. Arthur Bennett, staged his own death by setting fire to a trailer near Las Vegas. A charred body found inside the trailer was at first believed to have been Bennett.

But the scheme unraveled in 1997, when Bennett was arrested in Utah after allegations surfaced that he was molesting girls. Bennett, his wife, mother and two brothers were later charged in Las Vegas with conspiracy in the faked death.

Bennett also was charged with murder and rape, but hanged himself in July 1999 in the Clark County Detention Center while awaiting trial.

Federal prosecutors allege Amelia Bennett, Bennett's mother, Ellen Bennett, and his two brothers, Scott Bennett and David Bennett, knew of the faked death and conspired to conceal it. The family also allegedly collected about $300,000 in government benefits following the faked death.

In an agreement reached Monday, Amelia Bennett pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of misprison of a felony. The charge alleges she knew of the conspiracy but failed to report it.

Prosecutors said Amelia Bennett did not know of the scheme to fake her husband's death until days after the fire and may have feared losing her children if she did not cooperate.

She is scheduled to be sentenced March 26 and remains free on her own recognizance.

The trial for Bennett's mother and brothers is scheduled for Feb. 26.