Skip to main content
Fog icon
35º

VIDEO: Fight erupts outside courthouse after 2 arraigned in pregnant Melvindale woman's murder

A fight broke out Thursday morning between family members outside the courthouse after a hearing for two men charged in the murder of Amanda Lynn Benton. 

The video allegedly shows Benton’s uncle throw punches at a family member of one of the suspects.

*Warning: There is some explicit language in the video:

Jacob Barnes, 23, of Lincoln Park, and Jeremy Lee, 16, of Detroit are charged with felony murder, first-degree murder, assault of a pregnant individual causing death of a fetus and mutilation of a dead body. Lee is charged as an adult. 

Story: 2 charged in death of pregnant Melvindale woman arraigned on murder charges

Benton was reported missing Sept. 28. She was found dead two days later in a vacant home on Vanderbilt Street, near West End Street.

According to authorities, Barnes and Lee fatally assaulted Benton at Woodmere and Cabot streets. She was beaten in the head, neck and abdomen, before putting her in the trunk of her car and driving her to the vacant house on Vanderbilt Street where they allegedly set her body on fire, officials said. Benton was 5 1/2 months pregnant, according to family members.

Police said the men drove off in her car and left it in southwest Detroit.

Barnes and Lee were taken into custody Sept. 30.

Sign up for ClickOnDetroit Email Newsletters (click here) for more stories like this.