August 27, 2025 • 8 mins
A grandmother calls 911 over loud video games—hours later, her son is bleeding from a gunshot wound.
Then, in another state, a teenager bursts out of his home screaming that his father has killed his sister.
Two families, two homes, two stories of violence that no one saw coming.
This week on Love and Murder: Heartbreak to Homicide, we look at the case of 72-year-old Hazel Benson in Mesa, Arizona—and the chilling murder of 18-year-old Hope “Onyx” Cornish in Caldwell, Idaho.
**************************************
Do you have thoughts about this case, or is there a specific true crime case you’d like to hear about? Let me know with an email or a voice message: https://murderandlove.com/contact
Find the sources used in this episode and learn more about how to support Love and Murder: Heartbreak to Homicide and gain access to even more cases, including bonus episodes, ad-free and intro-free cases, case files and more at: https://murderandlove.com
Music:
℗ lesfreemusic
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/love-and-murder-heartbreak-to-homicide--4348896/support.
Then, in another state, a teenager bursts out of his home screaming that his father has killed his sister.
Two families, two homes, two stories of violence that no one saw coming.
This week on Love and Murder: Heartbreak to Homicide, we look at the case of 72-year-old Hazel Benson in Mesa, Arizona—and the chilling murder of 18-year-old Hope “Onyx” Cornish in Caldwell, Idaho.
**************************************
Do you have thoughts about this case, or is there a specific true crime case you’d like to hear about? Let me know with an email or a voice message: https://murderandlove.com/contact
Find the sources used in this episode and learn more about how to support Love and Murder: Heartbreak to Homicide and gain access to even more cases, including bonus episodes, ad-free and intro-free cases, case files and more at: https://murderandlove.com
Music:
℗ lesfreemusic
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/love-and-murder-heartbreak-to-homicide--4348896/support.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
On the night of Saturday May eighteenth, twenty twenty five,
the quiet of a Mesa, Arizona neighborhood was broken by
a nine to one one call that escalated into gunfire.
It started around seven forty five pm when seventy two
year old Hazel Benson called police, upset that her thirty
eight year old son was playing video games too loudly
(00:23):
inside their home near Hilly Road and Main Street. Officers
responded and spoke with both Hazel and her son, telling
her that he had legal standing to live there. After
that first call, the sun left the house for a
walk to cool off. Welcome to Love and Murder, Heartbreak
to Homicide. We're Kai's AI co hosts here with another
(00:45):
midweek mini case that Kai researched and wrote. Kai's off
for the rest of the week due to school starting,
so we're reporting on mini cases, but we still have
the same focus, keeping the victim at the center of
the story. If you like what you here, don't forget
to follow or subscribe on your favorite platform so you
never miss an episode. And remember you can join us
(01:07):
on Patreon for free at patreon dot com slash Love
and Murder, where even free members get extra perks. But
if you really want the full experience bonus episodes, add
free listening, case extras, and Kai's new Deadly Duos series,
sign up for one of our bonus tiers at patreon
(01:27):
dot com. Slash Love and Murder. Now, let's get back
to your midweek mini case. Neighbours later said there had
never been any signs of trouble in the Benson home before.
Hazel Benson was a seventy two year old grandmother who
was described as quiet and unassuming. That night, when her
son returned from his walk, Hazel allegedly blocked him from
(01:50):
coming back inside the home. Her son reportedly lunged toward
her with his hands in fists at his waistline. Hazel
later told police that was the moment she raised a
handgun and fired.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
Why did she even have a gun if it was
her son, did he hurt her before? Did she fear
for her safety? I don't understand why the gun was
even in her hand.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
The sound of the shots carried through the neighborhood. A neighbor,
Chris Hammond, said, I heard.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Three gun shots boom, boom, boom. It seemed like three
in a row.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Her son was hit in the stomach wounded, he managed
to stumble outside the house after the gunfire. Hazel made
a second nine to one one call, telling dispatches she
had shot at her son. Police found her son outside
and transported him to the hospital. His injuries were later
reported as non life threatening, and police confirmed he was
(02:44):
expected to recover. After being hospitalized, Hazel told police that
she actually wasn't sure if she fired once or multiple times.
She also admitted to officers that she tossed the gun
into a nearby canal after firing it. Hazel was arrested
that she now faces charges of aggravated assault, disorderly conduct,
(03:05):
and discharge of a firearm within city limits. And that's
all that's been reported on this case so far. What
are your thoughts on this? Let me know in the
comments below. Because this case was so short, KAI decided
to give us another shortcase to report on, so let's
get into it. On Monday, August eighteenth, twenty twenty five,
(03:28):
the quiet of Blaine Street in Caldwell, Idaho was broken
by a frantic nine to one to one call around
four pm. A teenage boy had run from his home
in terror and told dispatches his father had just killed
his sister and tried to turn the gun on him.
Officers with the Caldwell Police Department raced over to the house,
where they found eighteen year old Hope Cornish dead inside.
(03:51):
The victim, known to family and friends as Onyx, was
remembered as fiery, stylish, and deeply kind. Her mother, Miristel Thompson,
said she was a fiery one who loved heavy metal.
Her favorite bands Avenged Sevenfold and Bullet for My Valentine.
She had a strong personality, wasn't afraid to voice her
(04:12):
opinions and shared her love of music with her mom.
Onyx had struggled with substance use in the past, but
had been sober for more than a year. She was
working at a Wendy's in Caldwell, had started a new relationship,
and was protective of her younger brothers. Her aunt, Deborah Duran,
said she was a great kid. Eighteen is just too
(04:35):
young to be taken. Her father, fifty one year old
Delbert Cornish, was her adoptive parent. In court records, he
admitted he had been planning a murder suicide since September
twenty twenty four. He had purchased a nine milimeter handgun
with the intent to kill his three children and himself.
(04:55):
Delbert told detectives that he was depressed, worn down by
living with his brother, who he claimed belittled his children
by calling them loser and pedophile. His twisted reasoning was
that his kids wouldn't be able to live without him.
That morning, Delbert drank several shots of alcohol. Around nine am. Later,
(05:16):
he went to Onyx's bedroom, and when she suddenly opened
the door, he panicked and shot her in the head.
He told police he watched her gasp for breath for
twenty minutes before she died. Officers later found her body
with a Pride flag draped over it, which Delbert said
he placed as quote an honor to her, believing it
would be meaningful. Her cat had also been shot dead.
(05:40):
When his teenage son, Elce, came home from school, Delbert
told him point blank that he had killed his sister
and ordered him to go check on her. When the
boy refused and tried to leave, Delbert fired a shot
into the floor, blocked the door, and pointed the gun
at him In an act of bravery, else wrestled the
gun away, dropped it, and ran out of the house
(06:02):
to call nine one one. Police arrived minutes later and
found Onyx dead from a gunshot wound. They also found
the handgun on the couch without its magazine, which was
lying on the floor near the door, exactly as l
C had described. They discovered a murder suicide note from Delbert,
along with angry notes addressed to his brother. Delbert had
(06:24):
already fled the house in his brother's car by about
six point thirty that evening. Police used license plate reader
cameras to track him, locating him at his ex girlfriend's
house in Mountain Home. He was arrested around seven pm
without incident and booked into the Elmore County Jail before
being transferred to Canyon County. In an interview, that's when
(06:46):
he confessed to the killing, repeatedly telling detectives he was guilty.
Delbert is now facing charges of murder, aggravated assault, attempted murder,
and possession of a deadly weapon due during the commission
of a crime. He made his first court appearance on Wednesday,
August twentieth, and is being held without bond. His next
(07:09):
hearing is scheduled for September third, twenty twenty five, in
Canyon County. Crystal is left with a grief that words
cannot contain.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
She said, at one point in time, I loved this man,
but I'm just so angry my daughter's dead. What the hell?
Speaker 1 (07:26):
She also admitted she hasn't been able to tell her
youngest son, who has autism, about what happened, unsure how
he could process it. Canyon County Coroner Jennifer Crawford.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Said, our hearts go out to the family and loved
ones affected by this heartbreaking loss.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
And that's two cases of parents being absolute horrors. What
are your thoughts on these cases? Let us know in
the comments below. We also want to point out that
both cases are still ongoing, so everything said here was alleged.
Thank you for staying with us all the way to
the end. Don't forget to join us over in the
Patreon to get bonus episodes in more like behind the
(08:03):
Scenes clips patreon dot com Slash Love and Murder. We'll
see you in the next case.
On the night of Saturday May eighteenth, twenty twenty five,
the quiet of a Mesa, Arizona neighborhood was broken by
a nine to one one call that escalated into gunfire.
It started around seven forty five pm when seventy two
year old Hazel Benson called police, upset that her thirty
eight year old son was playing video games too loudly
(00:23):
inside their home near Hilly Road and Main Street. Officers
responded and spoke with both Hazel and her son, telling
her that he had legal standing to live there. After
that first call, the sun left the house for a
walk to cool off. Welcome to Love and Murder, Heartbreak
to Homicide. We're Kai's AI co hosts here with another
(00:45):
midweek mini case that Kai researched and wrote. Kai's off
for the rest of the week due to school starting,
so we're reporting on mini cases, but we still have
the same focus, keeping the victim at the center of
the story. If you like what you here, don't forget
to follow or subscribe on your favorite platform so you
never miss an episode. And remember you can join us
(01:07):
on Patreon for free at patreon dot com slash Love
and Murder, where even free members get extra perks. But
if you really want the full experience bonus episodes, add
free listening, case extras, and Kai's new Deadly Duos series,
sign up for one of our bonus tiers at patreon
(01:27):
dot com. Slash Love and Murder. Now, let's get back
to your midweek mini case. Neighbours later said there had
never been any signs of trouble in the Benson home before.
Hazel Benson was a seventy two year old grandmother who
was described as quiet and unassuming. That night, when her
son returned from his walk, Hazel allegedly blocked him from
(01:50):
coming back inside the home. Her son reportedly lunged toward
her with his hands in fists at his waistline. Hazel
later told police that was the moment she raised a
handgun and fired.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
Why did she even have a gun if it was
her son, did he hurt her before? Did she fear
for her safety? I don't understand why the gun was
even in her hand.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
The sound of the shots carried through the neighborhood. A neighbor,
Chris Hammond, said, I heard.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Three gun shots boom, boom, boom. It seemed like three
in a row.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Her son was hit in the stomach wounded, he managed
to stumble outside the house after the gunfire. Hazel made
a second nine to one one call, telling dispatches she
had shot at her son. Police found her son outside
and transported him to the hospital. His injuries were later
reported as non life threatening, and police confirmed he was
(02:44):
expected to recover. After being hospitalized, Hazel told police that
she actually wasn't sure if she fired once or multiple times.
She also admitted to officers that she tossed the gun
into a nearby canal after firing it. Hazel was arrested
that she now faces charges of aggravated assault, disorderly conduct,
(03:05):
and discharge of a firearm within city limits. And that's
all that's been reported on this case so far. What
are your thoughts on this? Let me know in the
comments below. Because this case was so short, KAI decided
to give us another shortcase to report on, so let's
get into it. On Monday, August eighteenth, twenty twenty five,
(03:28):
the quiet of Blaine Street in Caldwell, Idaho was broken
by a frantic nine to one to one call around
four pm. A teenage boy had run from his home
in terror and told dispatches his father had just killed
his sister and tried to turn the gun on him.
Officers with the Caldwell Police Department raced over to the house,
where they found eighteen year old Hope Cornish dead inside.
(03:51):
The victim, known to family and friends as Onyx, was
remembered as fiery, stylish, and deeply kind. Her mother, Miristel Thompson,
said she was a fiery one who loved heavy metal.
Her favorite bands Avenged Sevenfold and Bullet for My Valentine.
She had a strong personality, wasn't afraid to voice her
(04:12):
opinions and shared her love of music with her mom.
Onyx had struggled with substance use in the past, but
had been sober for more than a year. She was
working at a Wendy's in Caldwell, had started a new relationship,
and was protective of her younger brothers. Her aunt, Deborah Duran,
said she was a great kid. Eighteen is just too
(04:35):
young to be taken. Her father, fifty one year old
Delbert Cornish, was her adoptive parent. In court records, he
admitted he had been planning a murder suicide since September
twenty twenty four. He had purchased a nine milimeter handgun
with the intent to kill his three children and himself.
(04:55):
Delbert told detectives that he was depressed, worn down by
living with his brother, who he claimed belittled his children
by calling them loser and pedophile. His twisted reasoning was
that his kids wouldn't be able to live without him.
That morning, Delbert drank several shots of alcohol. Around nine am. Later,
(05:16):
he went to Onyx's bedroom, and when she suddenly opened
the door, he panicked and shot her in the head.
He told police he watched her gasp for breath for
twenty minutes before she died. Officers later found her body
with a Pride flag draped over it, which Delbert said
he placed as quote an honor to her, believing it
would be meaningful. Her cat had also been shot dead.
(05:40):
When his teenage son, Elce, came home from school, Delbert
told him point blank that he had killed his sister
and ordered him to go check on her. When the
boy refused and tried to leave, Delbert fired a shot
into the floor, blocked the door, and pointed the gun
at him In an act of bravery, else wrestled the
gun away, dropped it, and ran out of the house
(06:02):
to call nine one one. Police arrived minutes later and
found Onyx dead from a gunshot wound. They also found
the handgun on the couch without its magazine, which was
lying on the floor near the door, exactly as l
C had described. They discovered a murder suicide note from Delbert,
along with angry notes addressed to his brother. Delbert had
(06:24):
already fled the house in his brother's car by about
six point thirty that evening. Police used license plate reader
cameras to track him, locating him at his ex girlfriend's
house in Mountain Home. He was arrested around seven pm
without incident and booked into the Elmore County Jail before
being transferred to Canyon County. In an interview, that's when
(06:46):
he confessed to the killing, repeatedly telling detectives he was guilty.
Delbert is now facing charges of murder, aggravated assault, attempted murder,
and possession of a deadly weapon due during the commission
of a crime. He made his first court appearance on Wednesday,
August twentieth, and is being held without bond. His next
(07:09):
hearing is scheduled for September third, twenty twenty five, in
Canyon County. Crystal is left with a grief that words
cannot contain.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
She said, at one point in time, I loved this man,
but I'm just so angry my daughter's dead. What the hell?
Speaker 1 (07:26):
She also admitted she hasn't been able to tell her
youngest son, who has autism, about what happened, unsure how
he could process it. Canyon County Coroner Jennifer Crawford.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Said, our hearts go out to the family and loved
ones affected by this heartbreaking loss.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
And that's two cases of parents being absolute horrors. What
are your thoughts on these cases? Let us know in
the comments below. We also want to point out that
both cases are still ongoing, so everything said here was alleged.
Thank you for staying with us all the way to
the end. Don't forget to join us over in the
Patreon to get bonus episodes in more like behind the
(08:03):
Scenes clips patreon dot com Slash Love and Murder. We'll
see you in the next case.
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