Benjamin Senseman charged with killing his 2-month old daughter

**thehesbomb** · July 17th, 2009, 11:45 AM

Lots of comments defending the dad, what a nice guy he is, blah, blah, blah...we'll see I guess.

FLORENCE, Ky. -- A Hebron man was charged Monday with murder in connection with the death of his infant daughter, but neighbors said they can't believe he would have done it.

Emergency personnel were called Sunday just before 4 p.m. to a home in the 1800 block of Princess Court, where a 2-month-old girl had reportedly stopped breathing.

Her father, 30-year-old Benjamin Senseman, was later arrested and charged in her death.

Senseman pleaded guilty Tuesday during his arraignment, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 20.

Crews performed emergency procedures and transported the girl to Saint Elizabeth Hospital in Florence, where she was pronounced dead.

An autopsy showed the girl had died from a head trauma.

The girl's mother, Laura Senseman, was working when the child was injured.

But the family's neighbors said they could not believe that Senseman would have hurt his youngest child.

"He’s just been a loving father, loving husband, a great family person," said Diana Torres. "He loved his family, he just loved life, he adored his children. He was out here with his (3-year-old) boy all the time and I don’t see him capable, I can’t even see him doing something like this."

"No doubt in my mind that I can stand here and say he did not do this," Tanya Moore said. "He loves his family too much. He was so happy when that little girl was born."

Senseman is being held without bond, which could be set during his preliminary hearing.

http://www.wlwt.com/news/20042721/detail.html#

**curethispain** · July 17th, 2009, 01:24 PM

Originally Posted by thehesbomb

Lots of comments defending the dad, what a nice guy he is, blah, blah, blah...we'll see I guess.

http://www.wlwt.com/news/20042721/detail.html#

AAAAAAAAAAAAGH! Look at his face. I want to hope he didn't do it, but if any of my children died....I'd be devastated....truuuly devastated. I couldn't look even remotely ok.

**Komak** · July 17th, 2009, 05:30 PM

The 2nd autopsy showed the poor baby died of natural causes. The father is being released. Shame on all of you who were quick to judge and believe the worst in people. "He who has NO sins may cast the first stone". God Bless this family as they struggle with their terrible loss. They are in my prayers.

This was posted in the comments section of the given link....

It is NOT confirmed...

**curethispain** · July 17th, 2009, 10:08 PM

Originally Posted by Komak

The 2nd autopsy showed the poor baby died of natural causes. The father is being released. Shame on all of you who were quick to judge and believe the worst in people. "He who has NO sins may cast the first stone". God Bless this family as they struggle with their terrible loss. They are in my prayers.

This was posted in the comments section of the given link....

It is NOT confirmed...

I don't believe in God, so I don't care! lol (I know its not you who said this) But I still stand by the fact that he doesn't look upset at all!

**Unamused Cat** · July 21st, 2009, 01:35 AM

It was not a natural death.

A Boone County man charged with murdering his baby is out of jail, after his bond was lowered today.

Prosecutors say the baby suffered broken ribs, a broken leg and head trauma.

Benjamin Senseman was arraigned last week and ordered to be held without bond. Today, his attorney asked for a lower bond, which was granted.

Ten percent of a fifty thousand dollar bond was posted.

http://www.local12.com/news/local/st...Zg.cspx?rss=30

**Dneilz** · July 21st, 2009, 06:45 AM

No matter how hard I try, I can not even fathom why anyone would hurt a child or little baby. WTF is wrong with people?

Before I came to this site, I had no idea how many children where murdered by their own parents, relatives or trusted friend...babysitter. I am horrified how every day I come across a story of a beaten child or murdered child.

WHY do people have these babies only to kill them? I just don't get how anyone can do this. Children are so innocent and it just breaks my heart...

**MadeaBecBec** · July 21st, 2009, 02:35 PM

Cloe Lynn Senseman

Beautiful Baby, Now, Beautiful Angel, Rest in Heavens Peace!

God, If justice is needed in this case, dispense it swiftly and mightily,Amen.

http://www.kypost.com/mostpopular/st...PO8HTs1Zw.cspx

**jenthgr8** · July 21st, 2009, 03:46 PM

Fuck this fucking guy. I hope he rots.

**Dakota Valkyrie** · May 26th, 2010, 12:10 PM

Laura Senseman was indicted in early May for allegedly being involved in the death of their 2-month-old baby. Senseman entered a not guilty plea. Her trial date is set for September 20.

The child's father, Benjamin Senseman, has already been charged with murder. He was in court in preparation for his upcoming trial.

The new charges against the baby's mother come as the autopsy showed the child had serious injuries up to two weeks prior to her death.

The couple is free after posting 10 percent of a $50,000 bond.

http://www.wcpo.com/news/local/story...B-kUcxITg.cspx

**Dakota Valkyrie** · December 6th, 2010, 11:25 AM

Trial set to begin.

Chloe Lynn Senseman was alive for just 62 days.

During her short life, prosecutors say, the infant suffered a broken leg, arm, several ribs and the injury that ultimately caused her death, a blow to the head.

More than a year and a half after her death, Chloe's parents, Benjamin and Laura Senseman, are scheduled to stand trial today in Boone Circuit Court on murder and abuse charges.

"We're not talking about an isolated incident where these people, one or both of them together, killed their daughter, we are talking about weeks of abuse in the household where she was being taken care of by these two people," Assistant Kenton Commonwealth's Attorney Stephanie Kastner said during a pretrial hearing last month.

Chloe died July 12, 2009 - one day after her two-month birthday - at St. Elizabeth Florence after her father called 911 for help when she stopped breathing at the family's Hebron home. An autopsy showed she died from blunt force trauma to the head. The medical examiner also found several partially healed injuries, including a broken arm, leg and six broken ribs.

A day after the baby's death, Benjamin told a Boone County Sheriff's detective that he shoved the baby's head into the corner of a playpen. The 32-year-old was arrested and charged with murder.
[...]

Prosecutors initially charged the couple with one count of murder, but last month a grand jury indicted both Sensemans on a charge of first-degree criminal abuse. The charge relates to the injuries the baby suffered in the weeks before the fatal injuries, Kastner said.

Neither Zevely nor Scott would comment on their clients' defenses, but at a pretrial hearing, Scott noted that one defense could be that Laura Senseman was charged because she refused to testify against her husband when he would not take a plea deal.

Another possible defense is that the couple's then-2 ½ year-old son, Cole, injured the baby. Kastner said during a pretrial hearing last week that she understands that the defense plans to call witnesses to testify about a change in the boy's behavior after the baby's death.
[...]

The trial, which is expected to last at least five days, could become a battle of medical experts. Each side plans on calling doctors to give their assessment of what happened to Chloe.

The medical examiner, a neuropathologist and a radiologist will testify about Chloe's injuries for the prosecution. Medical experts are expected to testify that Chloe was injured at least three separate times, Kastner said at last week's hearing.

The defense also plans to call Dr. John Pless, an Indiana pathologist who studies the differences between accidental and intentionally inflicted wounds. The defense also intends to call at least 19 other witnesses, Zevely said.

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/2...s-death-begins

**Dakota Valkyrie** · December 11th, 2010, 01:20 PM

One convicted, one acquitted.

A Boone County jury convicted Benjamin Senseman of second-degree manslaughter Friday in the death of his 2-month-old daughter, but acquitted the infant’s mother, who was also charged in her death.

The jury of five women and seven men then sentenced Senseman to 15 years in prison, the maximum penalty under the law.

Senseman, 32, was also found guilty of second-degree criminal abuse. He will be eligible for parole in about three years.
[...]

As the sentencing phase of the trial began, Laura Senseman kissed her husband as she left the defense table to join her family sitting in the gallery.

“It’s bittersweet,” said her attorney, Tasha Scott. “She’s lost her child and now she’s losing her husband. It’s very sad.”
[...]

During the five-day trial, several doctors testified that Chloe suffered injuries at least three times during the 62 days she was alive.

The final injury was a severe blow to the head.

“Sometimes people make mistakes, and I believe that people deserve a second chance,” Benjamin Senseman’s attorney said while asking the jury to give his client the shortest sentence allowed.

But Prosecutor Casey Burns asked the jury to give Benjamin Senseman the maximum sentence of 10 years on the manslaughter charge and five on the abuse charge, to run consecutively.

“I want you to think about what Chloe’s life was worth,” Burns said. “This is about a 62-day-old infant that was killed by her own father.”

Attorneys for the Hebron couple had argued that the couple's 2-year-old son injured the baby and that if Benjamin Senseman killed the baby, it was an accident.

“They are grasping at straws,” Prosecutor Stephanie Kastner told the jury during her closing arguments.
[...]

Benjamin Senseman, who was out of jail on bail, was taken into custody Friday night. He will be sentenced next month.

As he was led out of the courtroom, he turned to his wife and family and said, “Be strong.”

http://nky.cincinnati.com/article/AB...aby-death-case

**Tundratot** · December 11th, 2010, 06:30 PM

Well, he couldn't argue postpartum psychosis, could he! What a stupid insect of a man. His black widow wife is no better, apparently standing by his side. Losing a baby and a husband, indeed! She's probably pregnant with another victim for his to kill in three years if he gets out on parole. Do I dare hope this guy will not get out, or will have parole conditions imposed that restrict him from the vicinity of his child?