A US Marine has been charged with the murder of a reality TV personality after her remains were discovered in a pond. Tshey Bennett had been missing for four days before she was tragically found on December 18.
The 26-year-old mum is thought to have encountered Willie Richard Ellington, a 20-year-old active-duty marine, at the Sweet Dreams Inn in Pensacola, Florida, last Friday. However, her body was later found over 50 miles away in an Alabama pond, far from where she was last seen, reports the Mirror.
Following the investigation the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Ellington, stationed at NAS Pensacola along Florida’s Gulf Coast, faces first-degree murder charges. In addition to this, he was also charged with child pornography offences after being detained.
Earlier in the year, Tshey featured on the HolllyHoodTV reality show Skrippa Bootcamp, which chronicles the lives of 12 exotic dancers aiming to advance their careers while living under the same roof. At the time of her passing, it is believed Tshey was working as an escort.
Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones commended the collaborative work between his team and Escambia County, highlighting a crucial tip-off enabled them to ensnare the accused.
Speaking with US outlet WKRG, Sheriff Jones explained: “Escambia County investigators tipped us off their suspect might be on a bus scheduled to stop in Opelika. Our team quickly scrambled to the station and set up a surveillance operation. When the bus arrived, investigators spotted and apprehended a man matching the suspect’s description.”
The discovery of Tshey Bennett’s body, believed to have been murdered in Northwest Florida and then inexplicably dumped in Mobile, Alabama, approximately 50 miles from where she was last seen, has led to a disturbing twist in the investigation. Authorities have withheld details on the cause of death or the circumstances leading to her body being found in a pond.
Their statement disclosed: “On December 14 the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a missing person, Tshey Bennett. Due to the suspicious circumstances surrounding her disappearance, investigators have been working the case as a potential homicide.
“The investigation led to the discovery of the deceased body of Tshey Bennett on December 18 in a pond located in an abandoned neighborhood in Mobile, Alabama.”
The police inquiry has led to identifying and arresting Willie Ellington, an active-duty marine at NAS Pensacola, now facing charges of first-degree murder and possession of child pornography. The police further noted: “Throughout the investigation, it was determined that Tshey Bennett was working as an escort and had met the suspect at the Sweet Dream Inn at the time of her disappearance.”
Tshey’s close pal, Muranda Newson, took to Facebook with a touching homage to the mother and her son. The post read: “I hate that I’m typing this. I hate that that handsome boy who is hurting. I really really hate someone did this to you baby you didn’t deserve this at all. So sweet so smart so about your money baby I just don’t understand.”
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