Robbery Gone Wrong: Alaysia Bennett

In this episode of Hunting 4 Answers: December 21, 2016—what should have been an ordinary night in Springfield, Illinois, turned into a nightmare. Nineteen-year-old Alaysia Bennett sat in a parked car with three others, including a toddler, when three men approached. Their plan was robbery. But within moments...the botched robbery erupted in gunfire and an innocent life was stolen in an instant. 

This is the story of Alaysia Bennett. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Speaks to the Plannet.

Speaker 2 (00:01):
I'll go by the name of Charlamagne of God and
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Speaker 1 (00:47):
Hunting for Answers is a production of the Black Effect
Podcast Network and iHeartRadio. Welcome to Hunting for Answers, a
true crime podcast. I'm your host, Hunter and today we're
diving into a case that shook a neighborhood in Springfield, Illinois.
This case centers around a young woman whose life was

(01:09):
tragically stolen during a botched robbery. This is the story
of Alisiah Bennett. Aleisia Monique Bennett was born on June
twenty eighth, nineteen ninety seven, in Springfield, Illinois, to her parents,
Adrianna Bennett and Lance Christopher Bennett. She was a twenty

(01:30):
fifteen graduate of Land Pierre High School, and by December
twenty sixteen, had been working for five months as a
patient registration specialist at Memorial Express Care. She had her
whole life ahead of her until one faithful night that
changed everything. December twenty first, twenty sixteen, a cold winter

(01:55):
night in Springfield, in the parking lot of a Georgetown
Town Homes complex near the twenty four hundred block of
West Washington Street, a car sat park inside nineteen year
old Alijia Bennett, three other adults, and a three year
old child. It was just another night in Springfield, or

(02:17):
so it seemed. However, within moments, the ordinary turned into
the unthinkable. Three men approached the vehicle, their intent robbery,
but something went terribly wrong. Amidst the botched robbery, gunshots

(02:38):
rang out, bullets pierced the car, and screams echoed through
the parking lot. Once the dust settled, one of the
individuals in the car realized that Alesia had been struck.
According to reports, all others in the vehicle remained unharmed.

(02:58):
Authorities moved in quick while the community demanded justice, and
it wasn't long before police identified resuspects twenty five year
old Devonte Taylor, twenty six year old Roderick Gales, and
thirty year old de Marco Jones, each of them accused
of turning a peaceful knight into a nightmare. The trials

(03:25):
unfolded over several years, revealing a darker truth. DeVante Taylor,
now thirty one, was confirmed as the gunman. He pleaded
guilty but mentally ill, to first degree murder. His sentence
was fifty years in prison. Despite his mental condition, he
must still serve his time for his role he played

(03:47):
in this murder. DeMarco Jones, now thirty seven, was another
piece of this deadly puzzle. He was convicted and sentenced
to forty four years in prison in twenty twenty two,
and the third man well. For years, Roger Gale's case
remained a lingering question until November twenty fifth, twenty twenty four, when,

(04:12):
at age thirty three, he finally changed his flee to guilty.
His sentence was twenty years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
My thoughts and prayers are with Elisiah Bennett's family and friends.
The trials may be over, but unfortunately nothing brings back Alaysia.

(04:36):
Her story stands as a chilling reminder of how quickly
a life can be taken from a senseless act of
gun violence. As we wrap up this episode, don't forget
to hit the follow button to stay updated on this
case and others like it. Also, be sure to subscribe
to Hunting for Answers on YouTube and stay connected with

(04:57):
us on Instagram and TikTok. Thank you so much for
joining us on another episode Until next time. Hunting for
Answers is a production of the Black Effect Podcast Network.

(05:20):
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