Contact:

Kate Porras
Police Information Coordinator
Grand Junction Police Department
970.244.3601
970.986.9947
katep@gjcity.org

April 10, 2009

3:00 pm

NEWS RELEASE
Cold Case Arrest Update #2
Case # 75-003545
(Grand Junction, CO)- On Wednesday, April 8, the Grand Junction Police Department arrested
64-year-old Jerry Louis Nemnich of Longmont, CO on two counts of first degree murder. The
charges stem from an investigation of the 1975 murders of 24-year-old Linda Benson and her 5-
year-old daughter Kelley Benson. Nemnich is currently being held in the Mesa County Jail on a
3-million dollars bond. His next court appearance is schedule for Tuesday, April 21 at 8:30am
before Judge Brian Flynn.

Nemnich’s arrest is the result of the reopening of this case more than a year ago. In the fall of
2007 GJPD Commander Greg Assenmacher began reexamining the evidence collected during
the initial investigation. He solicited help from retired veteran law enforcement officer Larry
Bullard, and together they began using modern police investigative techniques that led to
identification of Nemnich as a primary suspect. In February 2009, the GJPD put together a cold
case task force, comprised of GJPD and Colorado Bureau of Investigation, and Mesa County
District Attorney’s Office investigators. They were able to gather enough evidence to present to
a judge who approved and signed a warrant for his arrest. It should be noted these recent
developments would not have been possible without the diligent police work done during the
original investigation in 1975.

Once we were able to determine where Nemnich lived we began working with Longmont Police.
We were able to determine he would be passing through the Grand Junction area on Wednesday,
April 8th. GJPD officers contacted Nemnich at the Loma Port of Entry and placed him under
arrest without incident.

625 Ute Avenue, GRAND JUNCTION, CO 81501 • P [970] 244 3554 • F [970] 244-3799 • www.gjcity.org
THE ONGOING INVESTIGATION

Because of the age of this case we have been presented with some unique challenges, and this
arrest is only one of many steps that must be taken to complete the investigation and ensure that
Nemnich receives a fair trial. Although Nemnich has been charged with a crime, he is presumed
innocent until and unless proven guilty. We also owe the family members associated with this
case, who have been dealing with these deaths for more than 30 years, our best efforts to bring a
successful and accurate resolution to this case.

Currently we still have investigators who are tracking down and interviewing prior associates of
Nemnich across the country, and because of that we are not able to provide all of the details of
this investigation at this time. We also took steps to keep his identity confidential because we
needed those associates to hear of this arrest from GJPD officers instead of from the news media.
Our goal continues to be being as open and transparent as possible, as long as we are not
jeopardizing the hard work our investigators are currently undertaking, and Nemnich’s right to a
fair trial.

HISTORY

Linda and Kelley Benson were murdered inside their apartment in the 1300 block of N. 21st
Street on July 24 or 25, 1975. Both had been stabbed and their bodies were discovered by Linda
Benson’s husband as he returned home. During the initial investigation officers identified
several persons of interest, but there was not enough information at the time to make an arrest.

Jerry Louis Nemnich has had several previous felony convictions. Those convictions include
arrests for sexual assault, check fraud, and other crimes, as were outlined during his arraignment
this morning. We are providing his current booking photo from this most recent arrest.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

After more than 30 years, there is still a lot of work that must be done. We are asking that
anybody who may have known Nemnich to please call the GJPD at 970-244-3568.

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