On July 4th, dismembered legs pulled from a creek in Tennessee were confirmed to belong to a fugitive, police reported.
The severed limb was identified as that of Joseph Frank Benton, who vanished in 2024 after facing 40 charges related to weapon possession, explosives, and the sexual exploitation of minors.
In addition to this, he has new charges for breaching his probation after spending over a year at LAM.
These body parts were found in Sulfur Fork Creek, a 17-mile waterway in Robertson County, located just south of Springfield, where Benton was last known to live, according to the local sheriff’s office.
Before he went off the grid, Benton was tied to a cold case concerning one of his son’s former girlfriends, who had briefly resided with his family in Tennessee.
This young woman’s name was Jennifer Wicks, and she disappeared alongside her 2-year-old daughter, Adriana, on March 25, 2004, while living with Benton.
Reportedly, Benton’s son Joey informed authorities he had seen both mother and daughter being dropped off at a gas station before Benton drove away in a white car.
There were claims that Wicks was upset after an argument with Benton just before she vanished.
Interestingly, accounts suggest Wicks had been planning a move prior to her disappearance, according to her cousin.
Benton, who now has a scruffy appearance likened to Santa Claus, has drawn attention from those familiar with cold cases. Some speculate he might have amputated his leg to mislead law enforcement.
Comments on social media indicate a mix of anger and speculation. One user expressed a wish for justice, saying maybe Benton’s leg could be a consequence of his actions.
Other responses hinted at a belief that a form of karma might catch up with him, with one commenter suggesting someone might “hold him accountable” for what he’s done.
