ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — A St. Lucie County judge is expected to sentence Otto Lenke on Tuesday, deciding whether the former first responder will receive the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole for the 2021 murder of Fort Pierce motorcycle shop owner Richard Benson.
Earlier this year, a jury found Lenke guilty of first-degree murder and first-degree arson. During the penalty phase, jurors voted 11-1 to recommend a death sentence after hearing several days of testimony from both prosecutors and the defense.
Prosecutors argued the murder was especially brutal, telling jurors Lenke shot Benson inside his motorcycle shop before pouring alcohol on him and setting him on fire while he was still alive.
The defense asked jurors to consider Lenke’s mental health history, cognitive impairments and traumatic childhood, arguing those factors warranted a sentence of life in prison without parole instead of death.
While the jury has recommended the death penalty, the final sentencing decision rests with the judge. Lenke’s sentencing will start up at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday afternoon at the St. Lucie County Courthouse. CBS12 News will be following the developments in the case…