College Student Murder in Prescott Decades Ago Linked to Serial Predator
In a shocking revelation, authorities in Yavapai County have announced that DNA evidence has linked a brutal murder of a college student to a serial predator who later took his own life. The victim, 23-year-old Catherine Cathy Sposito, was killed on a hiking trail in Prescott in 1987.
Yavapai County Sheriff David Rhodes revealed that Bryan Scott Bennett, who committed suicide in 1994, has now been identified as the culprit through DNA analysis. It was only recently, after the exhumation of Bennett’s body in November 2022, that investigators confirmed the match of his DNA with that found on a wrench used in Sposito’s murder.
By sharing this information with the public, authorities hope to uncover any additional victims of Bennett, as they strongly believe that Sposito was not his only target. Sheriff Rhodes stated, Given the frequency in which he was willing to act, it is very unlikely that these are the only four cases that exist.
Sposito was attacked unprovoked while hiking on the Thumb Butte Trail near downtown Prescott on June 13, 1987. Investigators revealed that she was struck on the head with a rock and a wrench, shot in the eye, and then fatally stabbed in the head. Despite the cries for help from other hikers nearby, Sposito tragically lost her life before they could reach her.
The murder of Sposito sent shockwaves throughout Prescott and Yavapai County, as the Thumb Butte Trail had always been regarded as safe. However, it now appears that Bennett had targeted another woman on the same trail in 1990, just three years after Sposito’s murder. The victim, who was out hiking with her boyfriend, was ambushed by Bennett, who held a rock to her head before fleeing into the woods.
Bennett’s behavior escalated further two months later when he allegedly locked a girl in a room at a Chino Valley house party and attempted to sexually assault her. Although he was arrested, Bennett was acquitted of the charges. In June 1993, he kidnapped a woman at knifepoint from a Prescott post office and subjected her to repeated sexual assaults. Fortunately, the victim was rescued during a routine traffic stop, leading to Bennett’s arrest. However, he was never convicted for his heinous crimes.
Following these incidents, Bennett moved back to Kentucky and died by suicide using a 22-caliber gun, the same type of firearm used in Sposito’s murder. Sheriff Rhodes emphasized that it is yet to be determined if it was the exact same weapon.
It was thanks to advanced DNA technology and the identification of a descendant of Bennett in 2017 that investigators were able to connect him to the second attack on the Thumb Butte Trail. From there, they gradually worked their way back to the case of Catherine Sposito.
Sheriff Rhodes commended the dedicated volunteers, detectives, and partners who worked tirelessly to solve these cold cases, offering closure, peace, or validation to the four victims. He urged anyone with information related to the Sposito murder or Bryan Scott Bennett to contact the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office.
The revelation of Bryan Scott Bennett’s involvement as a serial predator responsible for the brutal murder of Cathy Sposito has sent shockwaves through the community. As the investigation continues, authorities remain committed to bringing justice for all the victims and shedding light on any other potential cold cases connected to this serial predator.
