Meet Convicted 35-Count Rabbit Abuser
Dustin Bender Rats Out Mom Catherine Bender in Cow-Killing, Sex Abuse Intimidation Case
Friday, September 3, 2010 at 11:46 am
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So one night Timothy's common-law wife, Catherine Bender, decided to help Thomas lose his memory with a little intimidation, according to police. She had her son, former Marine and Iraqi War vet Dustin Bender, go to Thomas' nearby farm and kill a cow, just to let Thomas know that his testimony wouldn't be taken lightly. (Read the full details of the incident here.)
Detectives soon received tips that the Benders were behind the cow execution. When they questioned Catherine, she at first blamed a young man who'd been partying at her house the night of the slaying. Then she admitted to killing the cow. Then she admitted to having her son do it.
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| Dustin Bender ratted out his mom, admitting to executing a cow at his mother's behest |
But it seems Dustin isn't close enough to his mother to stop him from ratting her out. Yesterday, he testified against Catherine in exchange for prosecutors dropping the gun charge, which carries an automatic two years in Michigan that must be served before any other sentencing can begin. That's a sweet law.
On the stand, Dustin says he was drinking with some buddies at Catherine's house, giving a proper send-off to a friend who was joining the Navy. They were pounding brewskies, rum, tequila and peppermint schnapps, the last of which makes us worried about the preparedness of our fighting forces.
(They let guys who drink peppermint schnapps in the Navy? What, are we planning a future invasion of fraternity row at the University of San Francisco?)
On their way to hammeredness, a buddy suggested they kill a horse. That guy is a friggin' degenerate. But Dustin said they simply kill a cow, since there were cows right down the road.
It might have all remained mere drunk talk, except that Catherine seized on the cow idea. She brought out guns and told Dustin to whack one of Thomas Young's cows. "She said she was tired of Tom screwing the family over," Dustin testified, according to the Grand Rapids Press.
So they piled into a pickup, drove down the road, and Dustin shot a pregnant cow named Mildred right between the eyes. They went back home and began drinking again. Catherine wiped down the gun and hid it the next day.
Unfortunately, their attempt at witness intimidation didn't work so well. Timothy Young would eventually plead guilty in the molestation case, getting 5-22 years in the slam. Thomas Young never had to testify.
See our original story: Catherine Bender, Son Dustin, Whack Cow to Intimidate Witness in Sex Abuse Case.
Tags: Gooberville, Michigan
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