ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL OBTAINS 20-YEAR PRISON SENTENCE FOR JEFFERSON COUNTY WOMAN CONVICTED OF SECOND-DEGREE MURDER

ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL OBTAINS 20-YEAR PRISON SENTENCE FOR JEFFERSON COUNTY WOMAN CONVICTED OF SECOND-DEGREE MURDER

June 25, 2026

Chicago - Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced a Mt. Vernon, Illinois woman was sentenced to 20 years in prison for her role in a 2025 murder that took place in the home where she was living.

Laura Beneway, 61, was sentenced today in Jefferson County Circuit Court after pleading guilty to one count of second-degree murder.

Raoul's office is also prosecuting a second defendant in this case, Peter Harris, 67, of Mt. Vernon, whose trial is set for Oct. 6 at the Jefferson County Circuit Court. Harris was charged with two counts of first degree murder involving a forcible felony and one count of first degree murder (act of probability of death), all a Class M felonies punishable by up to 60 years in prison; and one count of obstructing justice, a Class 4 felony punishable by up to three years in prison.

"While nothing can make up for the loss they have suffered, it is my hope that today's plea and sentencing can help the victim's family heal from the trauma they have experienced," Raoul said. "I am proud of the collaboration between my office's criminal division and local law enforcement in holding the defendant accountable."

In March 2025, Mt. Vernon Police Department responded to Harris' home in the 600 block of South 15th Street in Mt. Vernon after receiving a call about an unconscious male who was not breathing. Beneway also resided in the home at that time. An investigation and autopsy later determined the male victim, a 56-year-old man also from Mt. Vernon, died from blunt force trauma to the head the night before Beneway called the police to Harris' home to report the incident. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office also assisted with this case.

Jefferson County State's Attorney's office referred the case to Raoul's office.

A third defendant in the case, Eddie Bennett, 69, of Mt. Vernon, was found guilty of first-degree murder by a jury in June 2025 in Jefferson County Circuit Court. His next court date is July 21. The Jefferson County State's Attorney's office is handling that case.

Assistant Attorney General Suzanne Collins is handling both the Beneway and Harris cases for Criminal Prosecution and Trials Assistance Bureau.