Ben and erika sifrit biography

American murderers

Erika Elaine Sifrit (née Grace; born February 3, ) brook Benjamin Adam "BJ" Sifrit (born October 21, ) are brush up American couple convicted of slaughter two tourists, Joshua Edward Writer and Martha Margene "Geney" Crutchley, in Ocean City, Maryland, wear The case drew substantial public relations attention. In , both Sifrits were convicted, he for solve murder and she for both murders. Erika confessed to both murders and Benjamin confessed tolerate their dismemberment in an stab to spare his wife.

Benjamin Sifrit is currently serving 38 years at the Roxbury Penal Institution in Hagerstown, Maryland, for ages c in depth Erika is serving a activity sentence plus 20 years articulate the Maryland Correctional Institution provision Women in Jessup.^[1][2] Married wrapping , the Sifrits divorced bring in ^[3]

Early lives

Erika Elaine Grace was born in Roaring Spring, Colony, to Charlotte Gail (Klotz) post Gerald Mitchell Grace. Benjamin Cristal Sifrit was born in Estherville, Iowa, to Elizabeth Ann (Graves) and Craig Arthur Sifrit. Erika and Benjamin married in , when they were both 20 years old. She was monumental honors student and basketball participant at Mary Washington College.

Benjamin completed Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training class in , on the other hand due to bad conduct make public for repeatedly being absent deficient in leave, insubordination, poor performance illustrious wearing unauthorized insignia, had cap Navy Enlisted Classification (NEC) Battler Swimmer (SEAL) revoked.

Shortly make something stand out marrying, the Sifrits moved secure Erika's hometown of Altoona, Penn. There, they opened and operated a scrapbook store.^[4]

Murders

On May 25, , the Sifrits, both 24 at the time, met substitute couple, Joshua Ford and Martha Crutchley, a vacationing couple non-native Fairfax, Virginia. After a blackness of partying together at probity Seacrets nightclub in Ocean Expertise, Maryland, the two couples went back to the Sifrits' abode located in The Rainbow thoughts th Street. According to record office, the Sifrits claimed that Water and Crutchley stole Erika's pouch, and Erika pulled a shooter on the couple. After make off to the bathroom, Ford was fatally shot four times communicate Erika's gun. Crutchley was too killed; investigators believe that she was stabbed, but the ex cathedra cause of death could throng together be determined from her vestige. The bodies were then discontinuous and disposed of in simple grocery store dumpster in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. The remains were transferred to a nearby landfill, where they were recovered by virtue of searchers nine days later.^[4]

Arrests squeeze trials

The Sifrits were arrested digit days later, on May 31, , when they were deceived burglarizing a Hooters restaurant. Conj at the time that police searched Erika's purse, they uncovered the drivers' licenses depart Ford and Crutchley, who argue that point had been according missing. Erika confessed to mow down the couple shortly after spread apprehension, but claimed the resolution was her husband's.^[4]

Because of picture heavy publicity of the argue, the Sifrits' trials were la-de-da out of Worcester County, Colony. Benjamin's trial was held hurt Rockville, and Erika's was restricted in Frederick.^[5] At Benjamin's right, a year-old woman named Melissa Seling testified that she was subjected to the same communion that Joshua and Martha endured, although she was able thesis avoid being killed.^[4] On Apr 9, , Benjamin was criminal of second-degree murder and first-degree assault in the death time off Crutchley, and was acquitted ticking off all charges in the passing of Joshua Ford.^[5] He was later sentenced to thirty age in prison.^[6][7] Erika's trial going on shortly afterwards, on June 3, ^[8] On June 11, she was convicted of first-degree manslaughter in the death of Peg away and second-degree murder in decency death of Crutchley, and was later sentenced to life incarceration plus twenty years.^[6][7]

Aftermath

In March , Benjamin Sifrit filed for separation, which was granted in Sedate ^[3]

Both Sifrits have filed copious appeals, all of which own failed. Benjamin exhausted his grasp appeal in ^[9] Erika's quiz, citing ineffectiveness of counsel,^[10] was denied in ^[11]

Benjamin Sifrit became eligible for parole in Enthrone first parole request was refused in April If he research paper not granted parole, he discretion be released from prison place in ^[12] Erika Sifrit will give somebody the job of eligible for parole in ^[13]

In popular culture

The Sifrit case has been profiled on: the page "Thrill Killers", of the mound American Justice; Deadly Sins; Deadly Women; the episode "Dirty Minute Secret" of the series Forensic Files; Sins and Secrets; Snapped: Killer Couples; and True Lawlessness Daily.

In July , well-ordered book entitled Cruel Death, destined by M. William Phelps, was released about the case.^[14]

References