Prosecutor Will Not Seek Death for Taylor Behl's Accused Killer.  Jan. 17, 2006.

By  Seamus McGraw   and Mike Wild

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(Crime Library) 

Mathews County, VA (Jan. 17, 2006) A grand jury in Mathews County wasted little time today before indicting 38-year-old photographer Ben Fawley on charges of first degree murder in the death last year of college student Taylor Behl.

The six grand jurors, who arrived at the courthouse in the rural Mathews County shortly before 9 a.m., deliberated only briefly before handing down the indictment alleging that Fawley deliberately killed the 17-year-old Virginia Commonwealth University freshman last fall, according to Crime Library's Mike Wild, who is on the scene in Mathews County.

The one-page indictment, based in large part on the testimony of Richmond Police detective J.B. Hudson charges that Fawley, who claimed to have accidentally killed Behl during a sexual encounter "did willfully, deliberately and with premeditation, kill and murder Taylor Marie Behl and or did so...in the commission of or the attempt to commit rape, forcible sodomy or abduction."

Ben Fawley

Fawley could be arraigned as early as next week, authorities said. Prosecutors have said that they will not seek the death penalty in the case, though if convicted, Fawley could face a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

In a brief meeting with reporters after the indictment was handed down, Janet Pelasara, the slain girl's mother, expressed relief but said that her ordeal was far from over. "I am so relieved, just so relieved," Pelasara said.

  "I know that this is just the beginning and there are months and months still to come...before complete justice is served but...the system is working," she said.

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