Suspect Arrested in Bennett Murder

Tuesday, November 01, 2005

Eyewitness News

(10/19/05 -- RALEIGH) (WTVD) -- Raleigh police have arrested a suspect in a murder that shook the Triangle more than three years ago.

Drew Edward Planten, 35, of Raleigh, is charged in the murder of Stephanie Renee Bennett. Her body was discovered in her Lake Lynn Drive apartment on May 21, 2002.

Police said they arrested Planten without incident just after 4:30 p.m. Wednesday on Reedy Creek Road. In a statement Wednesday evening, Raleigh Police Chief Jane Perlov commended her investigators.

"Making an arrest in this case has remained a priority for the Raleigh Police Department since the moment officers responded to the crime scene more than three years ago," said Chief of Police Jane Perlov. "In the end, the case was solved by outstanding, old-fashioned police work coupled with modern science. I commend our detectives for a job well done and express appreciation to the SBI for valuable forensic support."

Eyewitness News spoke with Stephanie Bennett's father, Carmon Bennett, late Wednesday in a telephone interview from his home near Roanoke, Virginia. He says he is relieved by news of the arrest.

"We waited three and a half years for this, and the day finally came," Bennett said. "I'm sure my daughter didn't know this gentleman - - this person. I'm sorry. They say he was a total recluse, very weird, odd-looking fellow, so that would not be someone Stephanie would have known.

"I'm just very glad this animal's off the street. It can't happen to another young lady."

Bennett, who had offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest, says he spoke with Raleigh investigators last week, but they gave him no indication that an arrest was imminent.

Raleigh police made a new push for information earlier this year. They publicized a tip hotline in May, which they say resulted dozens of new leads. It was not known Wednesday evening if any of those tips led to the arrest.

Raleigh police plan to hold a press conference Thursday morning to talk about the arrest.

Stay with abc11tv.com and ABC 11 Eyewitness News for continuing coverage of this developing story.

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