Two more arrested for Cottage Grove murder of Benson
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Montgomery man, woman arrested for May homicide
Jazmyne McGee
Reginald Cooper
By Christa Jennings
Senior Staff Writer
Two more individuals from outside Coosa County were arrested last Friday in connection with the May homicide of 27-year-old David Tyrell Benson of the Cottage Grove community.
As reported May 3, the Sheriff’s Office sought information from the public to help solve the homicide case after responding to a call of shots fired on County Road 93 in Cottage Grove. Benson was found laying in the road, and he was transported via ambulance by Coosa County EMS to Russell Medical Center in Alexander City before being transported to UAB Hospital in Birmingham, where he was later pronounced deceased at about 5:30 a.m. May 2.
On May 30, 27-year-old Tremaine Dasean Grandison of Montgomery was arrested in connection with Benson’s murder. He was charged with murder and first-degree theft of property.
At that time, Sheriff Michael Howell reported that Benson and Grandison did not know each other. He further stated at the time that the case remained an ongoing investigation.
Chief Deputy Scott Hammond reported that since May 1 the investigation has been ongoing because of them having knowledge that more individuals were involved in Benson’s murder.
In following up with the case, the Sheriff’s Office presented information to the October grand jury, and indictments were handed down for two individuals who were identified as additional suspects in the case.
Sgt. Travis Ward informed the U.S. Marshals Service that Coosa County had two warrants for murder.
Ultimately, the investigation and indictments culminated in the November 8 arrests of 25-year-old Jazmyne Marsha McGee and 26-year-old Reginald Radontay Cooper, both of Montgomery, for Benson’s homicide.
McGee and Cooper were both charged with murder and first-degree theft of property through the grand jury indictments.
Total bonds for each were set at $100,000, and as of press time both remained in custody at the Coosa County Jail awaiting trial.
Hammond reported that following these three arrests, no other arrests are pending, and the follow-up investigation has been closed.
Sheriff Howell said that they had developed McGee and Cooper as suspects from the beginning, but that they were waiting on evidence to come back in the case in order to present it to the grand jury regarding all three suspects and their involvement in the murder.
“I’d just like to say, I appreciate the hard work my office has done on this case to bring all suspects to justice,” Howell stated. “I would like the community to continue to pray for his family and friends.”
Benson was a 2016 graduate of Central High School Coosa County. He was survived by his parents, David and Diane Benson of Rockford; son, Zander Amir Bendon of Alexander City; brother, David Butler Jr. of Tallassee; two sisters, Elizabeth Freeman and April Smith, both of Rockford; and many other family members and friends.
Anyone who suspects or observes illegal activity is encouraged to contact the Coosa County Sheriff’s Office at 256-377-4922 or online at www.coosacountyso.org. Anonymous tips are also welcome
