A Bushnell man has been sentenced to life in jail for murder and sexual battery of a 33-year-old woman in 2018.
Tyler Ryan Hirsch, who was 16 at the time of the crime, was sentenced for the murder of Melody Victoria Bennet, 33, on Friday morning. He filed an open plea in court in March and was found guilty of first-degree murder, attempted sexual battery while armed, burglary of a dwelling while armed, and three counts of battery on a law enforcement officer. Judge Mary P. Hatcher sentenced him to life in the Florida Department of Corrections.
Deputies from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence off County Road 625 in Bushnell on January 25, 2018, the day after Bennett’s thirty-third birthday, for a deceased individual. Bennett’s brother said he arrived at her house to check on her after not hearing from her in a few days.
When he entered the house, he learned his sister had died inside. Bennett’s death was determined to be the result of homicidal violence due to several stab wounds on her corpse, prompting officials to launch an inquiry. DNA samples were collected from her, as well as from other objects found at the site. A medical examiner performed an autopsy and discovered Bennett died as a result of several sharp force injuries on the night of the 21st and 22nd.
During the investigation, officials canvassed the neighborhood and spoke with Hirsch, who was 16 years old at the time. He said he knew Bennett since they were neighbors and she was a family friend. Hirsch denied having knowledge of the crime.
However, officials eventually discovered that on the day Bennett’s body was discovered, when there was a considerable police enforcement presence in the area, Hirsch was picked up by his school bus driver, who inquired about what was going on. He clarified that the woman had succumbed to a stab wound. At the time, law enforcement officials had not revealed any details regarding the crime or the method of death.
Law authorities later responded to Hirsch’s school and spoke with his teacher. The teacher informed investigators that on the morning of January 22, 2018, Hirsch requested a Band-Aid from the school nurse. He had a major laceration and several lesser injuries on his hand. When asked what had happened, Hirsch told his teacher that he did not want to discuss it and that it was personal.
Law enforcement spoke with Hirsch’s parents and asked for an interview with the adolescent at the sheriff’s office. Hirsch’s account of his interactions with Bennett evolved throughout the custodial questioning. Authorities took a DNA sample from Hirsch to compare with the DNA obtained at the site.
Hirsch was arrested on January 17, 2019, following months of research and a positive DNA match.
Assistant State Attorneys Blake Shore and Richard Buxman prosecuted this case.
