DOB: 10-02-1962
DOC#: 881976 White Male

Lake County Superior Court
Judge James Clement

Prosecutor: Thomas W. Vanes

Defense: William Davis

Date of Murder: February 12, 1988

Victim(s): James Cromwell W/M/34; Walter Muvich W/M/35 (Employers of Benirschke)

Method of Murder: shooting with .22 rifle

Summary: Benirschke felt he was being shortchanged by his employers at J&W Janitorial. He walked into the office, shot Muvich 4 times, then shot Cromwell twice, then shot each in the head. He took Muvich's checkbook from his pocket. He later said he went there to shoot Muvich, but had to shoot Cromwell because he was a witness.

Conviction: Murder, Murder, Robbery (B Felony)

Sentencing: August 31, 1988 (Death Sentence, 10 years)

Aggravating Circumstances: b(1) Robbery; 2 murders

Mitigating Circumstances: no significant prior criminal history, a history of depression and antisocial personality, drug abuse, high school graduate, 3 year U.S. Marine Corps service in Germany