Otto Lenke, a 67-year-old former police officer and firefighter, was sentenced to death on Wednesday, October 14, at St Lucie County Courthouse in Florida for the murder of Richard Benson, 57. Circuit Court Judge Michael Linn described the killing as “one of the most heinous, atrocious and cruel ways imaginable.”
Cold and Calculated Plan
Judge Linn said Lenke had “executed a cold and calculated plan” to kill Richard, who was dating a woman Lenke had previously been in a relationship with. On February 17, 2021, Lenke drove 40 minutes to Fast Frank’s Cycle Concepts in Fort Pierce and waited a further 20 minutes before walking in and shooting Richard twice in the back at point-blank range.
The former Melbourne police officer and Indian River County firefighter then poured two containers of denatured alcohol over Richard and shot him a third time as he lay on the ground. He poured more liquid over Richard before using a lighter to set him on fire and running away. Richard tried to crawl towards the door to escape, but Lenke dragged him back.
CCTV Captures the Attack
The attack, including Lenke’s preparations, was captured on CCTV, just down the street from Fort Pierce Police Department. Assistant State Attorney Brandon White said detectives’ “jaws dropped” when they watched the footage. He added: “I remember being in a room with the Indian River County Sheriff’s detectives, probably with over 100 years of combined experience, and their jaws dropped when they saw this video because it was probably one of the most heinous things we’ve ever seen.”
Surveillance footage showed Lenke removing his number plate before the attack. Prosecutors said he used a car driven by his daughter, which people would not associate with him, and later cut up the gun and disposed of it in pieces.
Jealousy and Arrest
Lenke’s former girlfriend Lisa Diggs helped police identify him in the footage. He had known her for a decade and had been in contact with her in the months before the murder. On January 19, 2021, he delivered a handmade wooden boat to Diggs, at which point he asked “why she did not love him and asked if it was because she was seeing someone.” Prosecutors argued the encounter fuelled the jealousy that led to Richard’s murder.
Lenke was arrested two days after the killing. A jury convicted him of first-degree murder and arson in May 2026. Assistant State Attorney Brandon White said: “He did a horrific act he’s going to pay the price. And up until the day that he dies, he’s going to be in solitary confinement. This is justice. For years, this case has been pending and today, the family of Richard Benson got justice. So, I’m very, very relieved for that.”
Automatic Review Ahead
Despite the ruling, Florida law requires the state Supreme Court to automatically review his conviction and death sentence, meaning he still has a legal path to challenge them. Further legal proceedings could take years. Skip Thompson, a friend of Richard, said: “I like that he got the death penalty. I don’t like the fact that we may be back here two or three more times on the appeals.”
