Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes ofwebsite accessibility

Man charged with murder in brutal South Seattle beating death


File photo{p}{/p}
File photo

Facebook Share IconTwitter Share IconEmail Share Icon

SEATTLE - A Seattle man has been charged with first-degree murder after detectives linked him to the June 26 beating of another man who later died from a traumatic brain injury suffered in the attack, court documents say.

The suspect, identified as Edward Motley Jr., 53, has a long criminal history and was out of prison in community custody at the time of the attack. He was tracked down and arrested last week and is being held in the King County Jail on $4 million bond.

According to court documents in the case, police responded to the 3100 block of Rainier Avenue South on June 26 after receiving reports that a man had been beaten and robbed outside a small convenience store there.

The suspect was gone when officers arrived, but witnesses said the suspect had punched, beaten and kicked the victim, and also went through the victim's pockets and stolen items, court files show.

The victim was bleeding from the nose and mouth after the attack and could not stand up on his own. He was taken to the hospital, where it was discovered that he had sustained a severe brain injury as well as a broken jaw. He was later identified as Wesley Benson, who worked as a nursing assistant at the Washington Care Center.

Benson's condition worsened over the following days and he eventually suffered a heart attack and was declared brain dead on July 9. His death was determined to be a homicide due to brain trauma.

Motley eventually was identified as the suspect through witness statements and surveillance camera footage, according to the case file. He was arrested last week when he returned to the convenience store where the beating had occurred.

During questioning, Motley admitted to being at the convenience store on a regular basis but denied having an altercation with the victim, or even having met him, court files say.

Court records show that Motley was released from prison in March after serving a sentence for first-degree robbery and stealing a woman's vehicle at gunpoint, then crashing and fleeing from police in 2012.

He also has several previous felony convictions for assault and unlawful possession of a firearm, along with numerous misdemeanor convictions, and has a warrant for escape after he failed to report while in community custody.

A court hearing is set for Aug. 20 in the case.

Loading ...