FARMERSBURG – There’s new information on a Sullivan County cold case dating back to 1981.
On the evening of January 2, 1981, the life of 51-year-old Sarah “Jeanette” Benson, was cut tragically short by an armed intruder as she returned to her Farmersburg home from a shopping trip in nearby Terre Haute.
Her husband, Emory, was at work in Terre Haute at the time of the murder.
Neighbors described seeing a blue sedan parked in Benson’s driveway, just prior to Mrs. Benson returning home from a shopping trip in Terre Haute.
One of the witnesses thought the vehicle was a Plymouth Valiant, describing it as “robin egg blue”. A second witness thought the vehicle was possibly a Chevrolet, describing it as having “shiny blue paint”. A third witness described the sedan as being “very clean”.
One neighbor observed a white male near the home. The male, who was wearing a vest, was seen exiting the blue sedan before knocking on Benson’s front door.
The male was described as tall and thin, possibly in his 20s at the time. Police remind the public that the man would now likely be in his 50s. Investigators believe this man was likely the killer.
Investigators exhausted many leads over the years but have not been able to develop sufficient information for an arrest. But they have received new information on the shoes the killer was wearing.
Investigators and the Benson family remain hopeful that sharing this information may spark someone’s memory.
If you know of any information concerning Benson’s murder, contact the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office at 812-268-4308 or the Indiana State Police at 765-653-4114.
