Found Deceased AZ - Benjamin Anderson, 41, Car found burned, Phoenix, 31 Dec 2021

[formerlyme]

This is my local area and I've followed this case. So glad for an arrest.

One of the mentioned suspects, Jaden Kaufman, is incarcerated in AZ for manslaughter committed in 2021. His picture is on the AZ DOC website and shows a young man with dark curly hair. Daniel, Ben's friend who saw Ben's car at the Sheraton parking garage (next to UEI college) around midnight, said he saw 3 people standing next to the car...one was a male with dark curly hair. Another person was a female with blonde hair. Jaden still has an X account (no postings for years) and he has a female friend with long blonde hair. I wonder if police have contacted her?

I checked radaris for Richard D Kaufman and found a listing for someone who's 46 yrs old living in Litchfield Park AZ, so possibly this Richard is Jaden's father. Mother is Jacqueline ...so possibly named the son with the J letter. The Sheraton is on the west side of Phoenix and so is Litchfield Park. Jaden's X account mentions El Mirage AZ which is also on the west side. Sheraton is on west side. Did the dad, Richard, help Jaden bring Ben to where he was found burning (very north and west of Phoenix area in the desert)?? No mugshot of Richard for Maricopa County yet.

Local news deep dive report from months ago

There's also a reddit from a few years ago about Ben, and Daniel chimes in with some details. Search "Ben Anderson" on reddit...not sure how to post reddit link.

El Mirage is pretty far from the Sheraton, I would consider the Sheraton north phoenix I think they consider it west only because it is in the avenues, being around 27th avenue , el mirage would be around 140th avenue I think.

 

[formerlyme]

Best search engine for True crime stories | Mugshots.com

Richard D Kaufman in Arizona Maricopa County arrested for (3) Counts of NARCOTIC DRUG-POSSESS/USE, (1) Count of DRUG PARAPHERNALIA-POSSESS/USE, (1) Count of, (1) Count of TAMPER WITH INTERLOCK DEVICE 4/26/1979

mugshots.com

This link from mugshots.com - picture of Richard D Kaufman from 2019 arrest for narcotics. With Jaden killing a friend during a drug deal, one might assume these two are heavy users and/or dealers.

question, has this been identified as the richard? I thought the two pictures of purple wild hair and black wild hair were the two suspects.

 

[formerlyme]

I am very confused so I apologize, we have two names and they must bein custody for something else if the names are released? one local station is not naming the suspects , others are showing two pictures of two young men is this actually one man in two different pictures or is this both suspects? I guess for now I will just be grateful the case was not dropped or forgotten and I will sit and await the news as it trickles out.

 

[stormymama]

I am very confused so I apologize, we have two names and they must bein custody for something else if the names are released? one local station is not naming the suspects , others are showing two pictures of two young men is this actually one man in two different pictures or is this both suspects? I guess for now I will just be grateful the case was not dropped or forgotten and I will sit and await the news as it trickles out.

The 2 pictures you are seeing are both of Jaden, one with dark hair and one with purple hair.

 

[formerlyme]

I guess it is possible depending on manner and cause of death for one person to be responsible and a parent to help "clean up " as in the case in texas. Awaiting more news on this such a senseless crime there is no justification for any of it.

 

[formerlyme]

this really has to be a several year difference in photos, You can see how I was confused.... because it really does look like two different people (to me) , I can see some of the mouth looks the same somewhat but drastic differences ( I do know drug use can really change a persons appearance) to me. If Benjamins friends saw this guy that hair surely would stand out so they may actually be able to ID him at the scene with the car! I really do have confidence that they have a lot of evidence and justice will be swift.

 

[formerlyme]

The 2 pictures you are seeing are both of Jaden, one with dark hair and one with purple hair.

I wonder why they are having such a hard time releasing the photo of the other suspect? everything about this news and the way they are releasing it seems a bit odd to me.

 

[stormymama]

I wonder why they are having such a hard time releasing the photo of the other suspect? everything about this news and the way they are releasing it seems a bit odd to me.

Not sure. His Facebook is public with plenty of pictures. He appears to have lost some weight in the last couple years.

 

[Glamis Girl]

I wonder why they are having such a hard time releasing the photo of the other suspect? everything about this news and the way they are releasing it seems a bit odd to me.

According to AZ news "Investigators have submitted charges" ...so no arrest of Richard D Kaufman and no current mugshot. Jaden is currently incarcerated in AZ prison for a prior murder (pled to manslaughter).

I think Richard's mugshot posted here is from some years ago so he doesn't look that old because he was probably 40 at the time. He is the father.

 

[Glamis Girl]

I am very confused so I apologize, we have two names and they must bein custody for something else if the names are released? one local station is not naming the suspects , others are showing two pictures of two young men is this actually one man in two different pictures or is this both suspects? I guess for now I will just be grateful the case was not dropped or forgotten and I will sit and await the news as

Another arrest several weeks before Ben's m*urder.

You can search for Jaden and Richard for both of their criminal records in Maricopa County.

Website Search | Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County

Use search terms to locate the information you need on the Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County's website.

superiorcourt.maricopa.gov

 

[formerlyme]

Another arrest several weeks before Ben's m*urder.

You can search for Jaden and Richard for both of their criminal records in Maricopa County.

Website Search | Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County

Use search terms to locate the information you need on the Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County's website.

superiorcourt.maricopa.gov

View attachment 613461

What a lovely collection of mug shots this family is building.

 

[dmac55]

Criminal history uncovered about suspects in Ben Anderson’s murder, including another killing
Criminal history uncovered about suspects in Ben Anderson’s murder, including another killing

 

[formerlyme]

Several charges, including first-degree murder, submitted to MCAO in Ben Anderson case

ABC15 has learned what charges have been submitted to the Maricopa County Attorney in Anderson's murder case.

www.abc15.com

why isn't the father in custody? is he on the run?

 

[stormymama]

Several charges, including first-degree murder, submitted to MCAO in Ben Anderson case

ABC15 has learned what charges have been submitted to the Maricopa County Attorney in Anderson's murder case.

www.abc15.com

why isn't the father in custody? is he on the run?

I’m perplexed about the dad myself. Maybe he’s cooperating? Maybe they have enough on Jaden but not Richard? I don’t know. His Facebook is still up.

 

[DustysMom]

Several charges, including first-degree murder, submitted to MCAO in Ben Anderson case

ABC15 has learned what charges have been submitted to the Maricopa County Attorney in Anderson's murder case.

www.abc15.com

why isn't the father in custody? is he on the run?

It sounds like LE submitted the case/ charges to the DA. If/when DA decides to prosecute, the suspects will be arrested.

 

[DustysMom]

I came here to post as just saw on local news! So glad they got his murderers! This has been a case I've always wondered why not solved yet. Suspects names released! Arrest imminent Jaden M. Kaufman & Richard D Kaufman! Interested if they knew Benjamin or how paths crossed.

After reading about this senseless and brutal murder, my theory was that Ben was getting out of the shower when he saw someone messing with (trying to steal) his Lexus and he quickly (leaving towel on the floor and cash and credit cards on counter) left his apartment with only his cell phone to confront the perpetrators. IMO, these *holes had probably been up all night doing drugs, had a propensity for violence and no respect for human life. They gave him a sob story and having a kind heart, let his guard down and was killed. How the father was involved? Perhaps he didn’t know that his son had shot his friend in the head in a previous incident and, after listening to Jaden’s version of the incident (drug addicts are experts at twisting the circumstances so they are always the victims) ‘helped’ him cover up this crime in some way. JMO

 

[BenjaminJAndersonAlly]

 

[BenjaminJAndersonAlly]

There is a more lengthy interview with Dan herein. Ben’s story is the 1st one.

 

[61Montcalm]

There is a more lengthy interview with Dan herein. Ben’s story is the 1st one.

That’s a very interesting interview. I have two observations.

The first one is that the father worked at a car dealership prestigious enough to have service appointments not just with the dealership but with an actual service manager. That sounds like a high end make to me. Like IMO Lexus, BMW, Cadillac, Mercedes etc

My experience in previously owning a Chevrolet - and a very expensive high performance Camaro at that - is that it would just go to the dealership for its service and my interaction with the service department was with whoever was on shift at the time. No service manager was in charge of the car.

Was this a some sort of ruse to steal Dan’s car and had the father clocked him at the high end dealership before and thought he’d be an easy target? Maybe they convince him he won a prize and that’s why he canceled brunch plans?

I’m undecided if this was or wasn’t a homophobic attack.

My second observation is probably nothing but in spite of the car being totally burned out it appears that the rims and tires have not been destroyed and melted. Was this photo taken where the car was found or after the police department had it towed or removed? I would expect that alloy rims would have been completely destroyed in the fire.

I look forward to these scum going to jail. Is AZ a death penalty state?

 

[Valiant]

That’s a very interesting interview. I have two observations.

The first one is that the father worked at a car dealership prestigious enough to have service appointments not just with the dealership but with an actual service manager. That sounds like a high end make to me. Like IMO Lexus, BMW, Cadillac, Mercedes etc

My experience in previously owning a Chevrolet - and a very expensive high performance Camaro at that - is that it would just go to the dealership for its service and my interaction with the service department was with whoever was on shift at the time. No service manager was in charge of the car.

Was this a some sort of ruse to steal Dan’s car and had the father clocked him at the high end dealership before and thought he’d be an easy target? Maybe they convince him he won a prize and that’s why he canceled brunch plans?

I’m undecided if this was or wasn’t a homophobic attack.

My second observation is probably nothing but in spite of the car being totally burned out it appears that the rims and tires have not been destroyed and melted. Was this photo taken where the car was found or after the police department had it towed or removed? I would expect that alloy rims would have been completely destroyed in the fire.

I look forward to these scum going to jail. Is AZ a death penalty state?

Wheels and tires can survive car fires because they are away from the main source of the heat. When you see the aftermath of car fires on the news the tires and wheels are still intact much of the time.