Killer hides body in suitcases, then makes a fatal mistake

Denver, Colorado – The police had an easy time with this killer !

Benjamin Satterthwaite (28) was charged with murder.
Benjamin Satterthwaite (28) was charged with murder.  © Police Department Denver

On December 29, two Denver city employees found two suitcases while plowing snow.

When they opened one of the suitcases, they were shocked to find a human leg inside.

They alerted law enforcement officers, who arrived and opened the second suitcase, which contained the rest of the body.

But it turns out the alleged perpetrator had also made a serious oversight: one of the two suitcases still contained the baggage claim sticker from his last trip.

As Denver News 7 reported, the sticker not only revealed the airline with which he had last flown, but also the name of the traveler.

It was clear that a certain Benjamin Satterthwaite had something to do with the crime.

Before officers had a chance to track down the 28-year-old, they were called to his home for a different reason, just three days after the body was found.

Both the perpetrator and victim were drug addicts

In the suitcases containing the body parts, officers found a baggage claim sticker with Satterthwaite's name on it (stock Image).
In the suitcases containing the body parts, officers found a baggage claim sticker with Satterthwaite's name on it (stock Image).  © 123rf/ bowie15

There, officers were confronted with a picture of horror: next to the unconscious Satterthwaite lay the lifeless body of another man. Both had previously taken drugs and apparently suffered an overdose.

While the suspect Satterthwaite was taken to the hospital and treated, a house search was carried out in his flat, during which traces of blood were discovered as well as further evidence that the man had committed the crime.

The exact motive for the crime remains unknown, but several witnesses claimed the victim, Joshua Lockard (33), knew Satterthwaite and was also struggling with a meth addiction. He was last seen alive on December 26.

A day later, the alleged perpetrator bought a saw, which he likely used to cut up the lifeless body.

Benjamin Satterthwaite has now been charged with murder and desecration of a corpse.

Cover photo: 123rf/ bowie15

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