S6 E8 - West Texas Psychopath - the murder of Ella Bennett, part 1 - A Nefarious Nightmare - True Crime

Episode Transcript
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(00:00):
Have you recently been in an accidentand need some legal advice. Have you
noticed that around the holidays, accidentstend to happen more often. If that
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you that this can be easy?If you head on over to accident dot
com slash podcast and your state isin the growing coverage list, you'll see
a network of personal injury lawyers throughoutthe US who will say what cases they
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form, and if your claim isaccepted, the closest attorney to you will
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easy, so head on over toaccident dot com slash podcast and find out
what your claim is worth and thefarious nightmare contains themes that may be explicit
or trick for some specific warnings anddisclaimers will be mentioned in the show notes,

(01:03):
and the farious Nightmare assumes all partiesthat are mentioned in these cases to
be innocent unless proven guilty in acourt of law. Listener discretion is strongly
advised. You can help us growthe show by leaving us a five star
written review on Apple podcast or Spotify, or you can join our Patreon for
light hearted bonus content. With thisWelcome to season six. Paris Lee Bennett

(01:26):
is an American psychopath and murderer.He brutally killed his younger sister, which
is known as souside, when hewas just thirteen years old. He committed
the heinous act by sexually abusing herwhile stabbing her seventeen times. He took
full responsibility for his action and isstill serving his sentence. In today's episode,

(01:49):
we'll bring to light some of thepsychological aspects of this crime, as
well as talk about a few sexualabuse and assault statistics. Because Paris,
as you all will find out,is a psycho path it's been noted that
he's also a genius, all ofwhich is a recipe for a cold,
murky, and very troubling swamp ofclues into the mind of this disastrous and

(02:09):
horrifying situation with this I'm Courtney Fennerand I'm Amanda Cronin and a Nefarious Nightmare
presents West Texas psychopath The Murder ofElebinet Part one. Today, we're going

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to travel about three and a halfhours southwest from Grayson County over to Abilene,
Texas. Abilene, also known asBig Country, is known for its
West Texas Charm, where you'll engagein check culture and may stop and enjoy
a kilachi. Abilene itself is knownas the Greyhound Capital of the World,
where the National Greyhound Association is headquartered. This city is also known for being

(03:09):
a shipping point for the livestock,grain, and other agricultural produce that you
all consume to this day. Andalso if you take a look at the
Tour Texas website, you'll see plentyof reasons to visit. From a day
at Frontier Texas where you can immerseyourself with holographic figures and really be in
the moment, to a spooky timeat Fort Phantom Hill, which is the

(03:30):
military site that operated in the eighteenfifties as a place to protect the settlers
during the Western settlement of Texas.All that remains today is three stone buildings
among the bare bones of old structuresthat used to exist. You can visit
the Abilene Philharmic Orchestra, visit showcasedart by locals to Abilene at Cockrel Galleries,

(03:54):
and you'll hear that This city isknown as the official Storybook Capital of
America because it holds the biggest publiccollection of storybook character sculptures in the state
of Texas. People will often headto downtown to take instagram worthy selfies alongside
Doctor Seuss's characters, and this righthere would prove to be the bittersweet thing

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to many residents of Abilene, aswell as the rest of Texas and the
country, even because the case wewill be discussing today is not one that
comes out of storybooks. In fact, this case is more of a horror
movie played out in real life.Born October tenth, nineteen ninety three,

(04:38):
in the heart of Abilene, Texas, Paris Lee Bennett entered the world as
the son of Charity Ly. Hisfamilial constellation includes two younger siblings, the
late sister Ella and Phoenix Bennett,a younger brother whose arrival occurred after Paris
found himself entangled in the criminal justicesystem. Marking a distinctive juncture in the

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face family's unfolding narrative. In thetragic case of Paris Lee Bennett, who
committed the heineous act of sooricide bykilling his baby's sister, Ella, it's
crucial to explore the psychological aspects thatmay have played a role. Paris was
diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder, characterizedby a persistent pattern of disregard for others'

(05:23):
rights, lack of remorse, andimpulsivity. Understanding the broader spectrum of personality
disorders helps shed light on the complexitiessurrounding mental health. Psychopathy and sociopathy,
though commonly used informally, are notofficially recognized diagnoses in the Diagnostics and Statistical

(05:43):
Manual of Mental Disorders or DSM five. Instead, these traits are often encompassed
by the clinical diagnosis of APD orantisocial personality disorder. In this context,
it's important to consider the alarming statisticsrelated to sexual abuse, a pervasive issue
that affects millions In America, morethan forty two million survivors of sexual abuse

(06:08):
grapple with its lasting impact. Shockingly, one in four girls and one in
six boys experienced sexual abuse before turningeighteen, with thirty percent of cases going
unreported. The prevalence of such abuse, especially among children, highlights the urgent
need for prevention and education. Paris'scase underscores the devastating consequences of untreated mental

(06:33):
health issues and the importance of addressingthem comprehensively. Through understanding and awareness,
society can work towards preventing such tragediesand providing support for those affected. Despite
Paris being characterized as a psychopath,he's staunchly denied any acknowledgment of mental illness,

(06:54):
emphasizing his perceived agency over his actions. In a candid twenty seventeen interview
featured in the documentary The Family IHad, he boldly asserted, I chose
to do my crime, and Itake full responsibility for my crime. In
a stating twist, he adamantly disvouledany suggestion of a predisposition to his heneous

(07:18):
acts, stating quote, I wouldn'tsay there was a predisposition to what happened
end quote. During this revealing interview, Paris sought to distance himself from the
narrative of mental illness, asserting hissanity and control over his actions. His
firm declaration quote I'm not insane anddon't suffer from any mental illness end quote

(07:42):
offered a glimpse into his own perceptionof his psychological state, presenting a complex
interplay between his self awareness and theexternal diagnoses surrounding his actions. While there
is no publicly known information on hisfather, it's important to mention that here
because his mom had to essentially playedboth roles throughout his life. There are

(08:03):
plenty of sources out there that suggesta general mixed feeling about Paris's mother,
some who feel like she did thebest she could, others who found her
to be oblivious and careless in alot of ways, and even stating that
she was just delusional. We leaveall of that up to you to decide.
But the backstory on Charity Lee Paris'smother is that she was born into

(08:24):
a very wealthy family. Unfortunately,when she was just six years old,
her father died, leaving her withan absent tea mother. Charity's family history
is marked by the complex relationship betweenher parents, Kyla Clark Bennett and James
Robert Bennett Junior, which, unfortunately, when Charity was just six years old,
her world was shattered when her fatherwas tragically murdered in March of nineteen

(08:48):
eighty. This devastating event took aneven more ominous turn as her mother,
Kyla, faced a rest in connectionwith the murder. The ensuing legal saga
saw Kyla being charged, tried,and ultimately acquitted of murder for hire,
sparing her from a potential life sentence. However, Charity's perception of her mother's

(09:09):
innocence diverged from the court's decision,fostering a lingering sense of distrust. In
Layman's terms, Charity believed her motherto be guilty. In an attempt to
gardner attention from her mother, Charityintentionally turned to substance abuse as a child,
but Kyla remained disengaged. The strainedmother daughter relationship fueled speculation that Kyla

(09:33):
too might have exhibited traits to psychopathy. This tumultuous backdrop forms a crucial part
of Charity's journey, shaping her experienceand influencing the complexities she would later encounter
in life. Charity, possessing considerableintelligence, demonstrated her academic prowess by graduating

(09:54):
from school ahead of schedule. However, despite her initial success's life time too
tumulchus turn as she succumbed to aprofound depression, leading her down a dark
path of heroin addiction. When shewas just seventeen, Charity's struggles reached a
breaking point, prompting Kyla to makethe decision to throw one hundred dollars at
her. She then issued a bluntultimatum. Either Charity could choose to use

(10:18):
the money to reclaim her life fromthe clutches of addiction, or she could
opt for a more tragic route,using the funds to procure drugs and find
a place to overdose. This pivotalmoment in Charity's life marked a crossroads where
the weight of her choices would shapethe trajectory of her future. And it's
right here where she decides that she'sjust going to be drug free. She's
going to live a better life.That's what she wanted to do. With

(10:41):
that pivotal moment, Charity made adetermined choice to forge a different path for
herself. Recognizing the need for change, she sought refuge in a halfway house,
embarking on a challenging journey to overcomeher addiction and reclaim control of her
life. Her battles extended beyond substanceabuse, as she grappled with the persistent

(11:05):
issues of depression that at times threatenedto derail her progress. Despite these formidable
challenges, Charity's resilience shone through,propelling her forward in her quest for a
personal redemption. In the middle ofher journey, she met a man,
and their connection led to an unexpectedturn of events. She fell pregnant around

(11:26):
January of nineteen ninety three and foundherself facing the complexities of motherhood. Unfortunately,
that man that she met ghosted.He just poof disappeared, which,
of course left her to navigate thetrials of pregnancy and impending motherhood alone.
And this unforeseen twist and Charity's storyadded layers of adversity to her already intricate

(11:48):
narrative, setting the stage for thecomplexities she would confront in the years to
come. On October tenth, nineteenninety three, Paris entered the world.
Despite boasting a genius level I CUEof one hundred and forty one, his
early years unfolded like those of anyordinary child. Remarkably gifted and talented,
he exhibited a penchant for drawing froman early age of three, showcasing a

(12:13):
creative flare that hinted at his intellectualpotential. For the initial eight years of
his life, it was relatively simplefamily dynamic religious Charity in Paris. However,

(12:35):
this stability took a turn when Charityfound herself pregnant, once again,
ushering in a new chapter in theirlives and introducing a dynamic that would play
a pivotal role in the family's unfoldingstory. So picture this. You all
have likely seen those reaction videos onlinewhere you know, a kid reacts to
the news of a new sibling,and some kids are stoked, but others

(12:56):
will cry or they'll get jealous,and whatever the reaction, it's normal and
every kid is different. But Pariswas just furious over the news. Whenever
there was talk of a new baby, he became upset and would even leave
the room. But everything changed whenElla was actually born on April twelfth,
two thousand and two. According toCharity, Paris was no longer angry and

(13:20):
he had been doted on Ella.Unfortunately, Ella's father also goes to Charity,
which left her a single mom ofnow two children. Even though Charity's
dad departed in a manner reminiscent ofParis's father, A unique family bond emerged,
uniting Charity, her mother, andherself for a span of a few
years. During this time, Ella, with her vibrant and sizable personality,

(13:46):
thrived within this family trio. Thesibling dynamic was nothing short of endearing.
With a profound affection evident between Ellaand her big brother Paris, their closeness
was palatable. The siblings were practicallyinseparable, engaging in playful activities that persisted
as they both navigated the challenges ofgrowing older together. This connection endured for

(14:09):
approximately three years until Paris reached theage of around eleven, introducing a new
shift in the dynamics. Charity hadbeen working long hours and was stressed all
the time. She fell off thewagon, relapsed and began doing cocaine.
Paris started acting out while Charity wasusing, and after six months of this,

(14:31):
Charity was finally able to get cleanonce again. Paris was feeling pretty
bitter towards his mom and it wasbuilding up each day. So unfortunately,
and unbeknownst to her, the factthat she'd gotten clean just wasn't enough to
change Paris's mind. The fallout hadthem moving from house to house quite a
bit, and they ended up movingback in with Charity's mother. Much like

(14:52):
the toxic environment Charity had experienced withKyla in her own childhood, things didn't
change to bite Paris and Ella.Paris began to act out, and each
day it would escalate. In fact, there are several hindsight videos that Charity
had taken meant to be pleasant memoriesof Paris and Ella's childhood where Paris was

(15:13):
really rough with Ella. One inparticular, where he had grabbed the three
year old Ella by the head andface and shake her pretty vigorously. You
can hear Charity in the background saysomething like gentle or be gentle, to
which Paris would sort of chuckle andleave it alone. In fact, one
day, Ella and Paris were playingand he broke one of her toys,

(15:37):
and while it's not clear whether hedid it on purpose or by accident,
many people, knowing what they knowof Paris today, believe it was a
vindicative act of cruelty towards his sister. It was as though he wanted to
instigate a fight or extract a reactionout of her on his own gain,
and Ella was obviously upset. Imean, she's three years old and he
broke one of her toys, soCharity sued Paris in this moment. He

(16:02):
did not respond well to that.He found a kitchen knife, grabbed it
and began waving it around at them. He then ran out of the house
with a knife, with his motherand grandmother on his heels. Paris's response
was to stop and begin waving theknife at them as to induce fear.
Fortunately, they were able to grappleParis and retrieve the knife safely. Charity

(16:25):
sensed an alarming departure from normal behaviorin Paris, particularly considering his earlier persona
as a loving and attentive child priorto her relapse. Intuitively, she felt
that something had shifted within him,a realization underscored by the perplexing nature of
his actions. While she couldn't pinpointthe exact reasons or triggers for his unsettling

(16:51):
behavior, she trusted her instincts thatsignaled an alarming change in her son.
In response to this concerning episode,Charity took the proactive step of admitting him
to a psychiatric facility, driven bya genuine concern for his well being.
However, the outcome of this decisionproved both baffling and infuriating. A mere

(17:12):
week later, the facility discharged Pariswithout providing Charity with any information about his
condition. What compounded this frustration wasthe facility's omission of critical details, specifically
Paris's troubling combination of homicidal and suicidalideation, along with distressing incidents such as

(17:33):
self inflicted harm by banging his headagainst the wall. Shockingly, there even
existed video footage capturing threatening gestures directedat his baby's sister, further highlighting the
facility's failure to provide a comprehensive understandingof the severity of Paris's mental health struggles.
Charity, Ella and Paris moved outof Kyla's house to Avelene soon after

(17:56):
this entire incident. She ended upgetting a job at a place called Buffalo
Wild Wings. Then February fourth,two thousand and seven started as a relatively
normal evening. It was cool andit was a little windy, just as
you'd expect in Texas winter. Charityleft her children with a babysitter and she

(18:18):
went to work, and everything seemedto have been going great until police arrived
at around twelve thirty am the nextmorning to inform Charity that her daughter had
been badly hurt. The heart wrenchingmoment Charity asked the police to take her
to her daughter unfolded into a devastatingrevelation that would alter the course of her
life forever. The officer's dark responseechoed with finality, quote you can't go,

(18:44):
she's dead end quote. The weightof those words plunged Charity into an
unimaginable abyss of grief and despair.As she grappled with the unimaginable loss of
her daughter, authorities assured her thatshe was in custody. The events leading
up to this tragic night unveiled adisturbing sequence. At around ten pm the

(19:07):
previous evening, Paris, at justthirteen, orchestrated the departure of the babysitter.
How he convinced her remains shrouded ina mystery, but the likely narrative
revolves around his age, leveraging theperception that he could handle the responsibility of
watching his sister. The common notionthat thirteen is deemed an age where one

(19:29):
is considered quote too old to bebabysat quite possibly played a role in persuading
the babysitter to leave. With thebabysitter gone, Paris ventured into four year
old Ella's room, perpetrating unspeakable actsof violence. The subsequent events unfolded with
chilling brutality as he subjected his youngersister to sexual assault, followed by choking

(19:53):
her and inflicting seventeen stab wounds.This horrifying sequence of events marked the inception
of a tragedy that would forever scarthe lives of those involved. According to
Charity, She says, quote,his stabs were slow and methodical, not
frenzied, not an uncontrollable rage.Not all were deep, most were shallow

(20:17):
jabs and punctures. He told thedetectives he stabbed her and pulled a knife
out slowly, that it felt likestabbing a mattress or a marshmallow end quote.
Afterward, Paris called one of hisfriends from school, whom he calmly
chatted with for about six minutes beforecalling nine one one. The following is
the nine one one call. Hello, go ahead, you're hallucinating, Yes,

(20:44):
I woke up, and now what'syour sister? Saying? Her name
is stall A Minutella or four years. How are you your key? If
she's bleeding anywhere? Yes? Leaningover her? What did she stabber with?

(21:07):
Hey? Hey? Where's she stabber? Oh? Lots of clay.
I want to start PR Okay.What I want to do is pack her
off the van. I know hedo. You want to go ahead and
try? It might still help?Okay, No, I go, come
on, Derek, work with me. I know I've stuck her. What

(21:30):
home? Don okay? If she'son the floor, But I can't stay
here because you're old boy, youcare. What I want you to do
is I want you to put yourhand on her desk okay, and I
want you to put thirty times.I want you to count, okay all
the way to thirty and then blowsto bless in her mouth? Okay,
okay? Well two three or Whenlaw enforcement arrived at the scene, a

(22:03):
stark revelation unfolded as they quickly discernedthat Paris Lee Bennett hadn't made any genuine
attempt to administer CPR to his youngsister. Instead of responding to the urgency
of the situation, he engaged ina disturbing charade, feeding concern and falsely
portraying his actions for the benefit ofthe nine to one to one operator.

(22:25):
His chilling discovery added another layer ofmalevolence to the already horrific crime, showcasing
not only the brutality of the actitself, but also the calculated and callous
demeanor exhibited by Paris in the immediateaftermath. The contrast between the stimulated concern
in the gruesome reality painted a horroringpicture of the depth of his psychopathy,

(22:51):
leaving investigators to grapple with an unsettlingquestion of what drove a thirteen year old
to commit such a henious act withouta shred of remorse or genuine concern for
his sister's well being. Next week, we will delve further into the interview
conducted upon Paris's admission of guilt,examine his mental health diagnosis, which includes

(23:12):
psychopathy, and the chilling details surroundingthe investigation and aftermath of his heinous crime.
Will explore the complexities of the legalproceedings and the lasting impact this tragic
case has had on both the communityand those directly involved. We will even
hear how Ella's light continues to shineto this very day. Stay tuned as

(23:34):
we unravel the layers of this disturbingtrue crime story, shedding light on the
psychological aspects and the aftermath that continuesto resonate for now. Please always remember
mental health is something we find tobe very important because it plays a massive
role in everyone's lives. There's areason we advocate so heavily on all of

(23:56):
us, prioritizing our mental health.What happened to Ella was senseless and cruel
and very likely could have been prevented. All victims and survivors are bees.
Bees are strong, resilient, yetvulnerable. We must protect the bees at
all costs, for without bees,we as a human race cannot survive or

(24:18):
thrive in life. So be vigilant, for when you mess with the bees,
you get the hive. Thank youfor listening to a Nefarious Nightmare.
Music used in the theme was originallyby ghost Stories Incorporated, remixed by Ryan

(24:41):
RCX Murphy. Additional background music isprovided by Epidemic Sound. An Nefarious Nightmare
is scripted, researched, and producedby Courtney Fenner and Amanda Cronin. I'm
Leani Hobbs and as always, bevigilant, for when you mess with the
bees, you get the hive.

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S6 E8 - West Texas Psychopath - the murder of Ella Bennett, part 1

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.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}S6 E8 - West Texas Psychopath - the murder of Ella Bennett, part 1