A St. Lucie County judge sentenced Otto Lenke to death for the murder of Richard Benson.

This is a sentence after a guilty verdict, not an open charge. The outlets agree a jury convicted him in May and that Linn imposed death on Oct. 14. They do not agree on his age or on the name of Benson's shop, and CBS12's own sentencing story does not agree with itself on whether the hearing was Tuesday or Wednesday.

CBS12 reported that Circuit Judge Michael Linn sentenced Otto Lenke to death on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, for the first-degree murder of Richard Benson. Linn said, "The court's independent evaluation of this case herein leads to the conclusion that the death sentence is appropriate and a just sentence for the murder of Richard Benson. Therefore, Otto Lenke, I hereby sentence you to death for the first-degree murder of Richard Benson." CBS12 reported Lenke sat motionless as the sentence was read. The station's headline and story text call him 67. The photo caption on that same story calls him 66 and says the sentence was handed down Tuesday. The web address of the story also uses 66. Florida Today reported he is 67, of Sebastian, and that he stood motionless in orange jail clothing, chained at the wrists and waist, during a short hearing at the St. Lucie County Courthouse. CBS12's May 21 account of the penalty phase called him 66. WPTV's sentencing story did not print an age.

The conviction came in May. CBS12 reported a jury found Lenke guilty in May 2026 of first-degree murder and arson in Benson's 2021 death. WPTV reported the killing was in February 2021, inside Benson's bike shop, and that the shop sits just down the street from Fort Pierce Police Department headquarters. TCPalm, in its Oct. 14 photo gallery and in its May 21 story, and Florida Today reported the jury convicted him of first-degree murder with a firearm and first-degree arson of a structure, then voted 11-1 for death. Florida Today reported the panel was seven women and five men, and that on May 21 the jurors found the homicide was especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel; was committed in a cold, calculated, and premeditated manner; and occurred while Lenke was committing another felony, arson. TCPalm's May 21 story reported the guilty verdict came May 8, the 11-1 recommendation came May 21 after about five hours, and that Florida law requires at least an 8-4 vote before a judge may impose death. CBS12's May 21 story reported that jurors recommended death and that a Spencer hearing was set for July 14 at 1:30 p.m. It did not print the vote.

CBS12 and WPTV reported prosecutors said Lenke shot Benson, poured denatured alcohol on him, and set him on fire while Benson was still alive. The shop's name is not one caption. CBS12 calls it Fast Frank's Custom Cycle Components. Florida Today and TCPalm call it Fast Frank's Cycle Concepts. WPTV calls it Fast Frank's. CBS12 reported prosecutors said Benson had been dating a woman who previously had a relationship with Lenke, and that they argued the killing was planned: he used a car that belonged to his daughter, a car people would not associate with him, and he cut up the gun and disposed of it in pieces. The daughter is not named here. The woman is not named here. CBS12 reported Lenke did not testify. WPTV reported prosecutors played surveillance video for the jury. CBS12 and WPTV reported he is a former Melbourne police officer and an Indian River County firefighter.

Assistant State Attorney Brandon White told CBS12, "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." Assistant State Attorney Justin Cormier told the station, "We're relieved and the judge's decision is, we respect it and that's what we were hoping for in this case and we're glad that justice could be served." Skip Thompson, a friend who helped Benson in the shop and attended the trial, told CBS12, "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." WPTV reported White said justice was served and that he was pleased this part of the process was done. CBS12 reported Florida law requires the Florida Supreme Court to review every death sentence, so Lenke still has a path to challenge the conviction and the sentence. The sentence follows a jury verdict. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.