Former Linton man accused of threat to kill his wife

A former Linton man is due in court early Thursday to face a felony charge of intimidation. He’s accused of battering his wife and threatening to kill her.

Bryce Edward Benefiel

Bryce Edward Benefiel, 41, Terre Haute, formerly from Linton, was arrested by Deputy Terry Wade of the Greene County Sheriff’s Department on Thursday, June 10, on a warrant for his arrest that was issued in late May in connection with an incident that occurred in early May.

Benefiel’s bond was set at $5,000 surety with ten percent cash allowed. He posted $500 and was released the same day as his arrest.

He’s now scheduled to be in Greene Superior Court early Thursday for an initial hearing on charges of:

• Intimidation – threat is to commit a forcible felony, a Level 6 felony, and

• Domestic battery, a Class A misdemeanor.

The charges stem from an investigation by GCSD Deputy Devan Goad into a domestic dispute in Linton on Saturday, May 8.

When Deputy Goad first arrived on the scene, Benefiel told him he was asleep on the couch when his wife punched him in the eye and told him to leave. He said he couldn’t leave because she kept grabbing and hitting him. He said he didn’t have any injuries and Deputy Goad said he did not see any signs of injury on Benefiel.

Deputy Goad then talked to Benefiel’s wife who confirmed she had asked Benefiel to leave but as he was leaving, he said he was going to kill her then put her on the ground and started choking her and pulling her hair out. Deputy Goad reported she had a bruise on the chest area, a bruised and swollen hand and multiple strands of hair had been pulled out.

Deputy Goad also talked to a witness who was asleep in a bedroom of the home when the altercation started. She said she heard the two arguing then heard the wife yelling for her to come into the living room. The witness allegedly said she then saw Benefiel on top of the woman with his hands on her and when she tried to separate the two, she heard Benefiel say he was going to kill his wife.

No arrests were made at that time. Deputy Goad said the two agreed to separate for the evening.

After information was forwarded to the prosecutor’s office, a criminal case was filed against Benefiel and a warrant issued.

Benefiel has retained a defense attorney from Terre Haute and the defense has filed a notice with the court of the intent to claim Benefiel was acting in self-defense.