Tyler Benson
Bond has been raised for a 23-year-old Ooltewah man who told police he had been reading about serial killer Ted Bundy and "wanted to be like him" after testimony about the concerns of a licensed clinical social worker.
Joel Davenport, whose firm has been monitoring Tyler Benson after he made an initial bond, said he received a call from the counselor.
Mr. Davenport told Criminal Court Judge Don Poole that the counselor "is extremely concerned that he is a threat to his parents and others."
Mr.
Davenport said he then relayed the information to Neal Pinkston of the District Attorney's Office. A hearing was then set.
Judge Poole, saying one reason for bond is the safety of the public, raised the bond to $250,000 on each case he faces.
He set an additional hearing in the matter will be held soon.
Benson, of 1757 Torbett Lane, had been charged with beating a known prostitute in the head with a hammer.
He was charged with especially aggravated robbery, aggravated assault and patronizing prostitution. He iinitially was held on an $80,000 bond.
An officer said he responded last August to a report of an assault at 1610 S. Willow St. He said he talked with Cynthia Denise Pittman, who said she had been picked up by a white male and taken near the Bojangles on E. 23rd Street. She said the man attacked her there.
Police said she had cuts on her arms, face and head.
Ms. Pittman, 39, was taken by ambulance to Erlanger Hospital.
Four days later, police said Benson was seen driving around Highland Park in a red Chevy SUV. Benson was stopped and gave police a statement. He said he has been picking up prostitutes and trying to trick them into giving him free sex.
Benson said he had picked up Ms. Pittman and tried to rob her, but she began to fight back. He said he "did not like that she was fighting back and wanted her to be afraid and to do what he said."
He said Ms. Pittman "was putting up a good fight" so he pulled out a hammer and began to hit her in the head. He said at one point he and Ms. Pittman were fighting over a knife.
Police said Benson also confessed "to attacking a number of unidentified prostitutes in the same manner as Ms. Pittman."
He said he "enjoyed the power he felt" while beating the prostitutes.
Current Benson photo