Lewis stalker died of natural causes

Kim Smith

Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2001 | 10:43 a.m.

Gary Benson, a diagnosed schizophrenic who died in the Clark County Detention Center earlier this month while awaiting trial on charges of stalking comedian Jerry Lewis, died of natural causes.

A spokeswoman for the Clark County coroner's office said this morning that Benson died of coronary artery sclerosis, or hardening of the arteries.

Benson, 57, was found dead in his bed early on the morning of Aug. 4 after his cellmate alerted corrections officers.

Benson was arrested in May 2000 in Wyoming after Lewis reportedly received a letter at his Las Vegas home in April 2000. The letter read, "Dear Jerry. Your (sic) Dead." The letter was signed, "Your friend, Gary Benson."

The FBI arrested Benson in a Sheridan County, Wyo., Department of Veterans Affairs hospital.

In May 1995 Benson pleaded guilty to stalking Lewis and received probation.

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