Bio

Benny Lee Saylor was born on November 14, 1967. He grew up in Madison County, Indiana. Saylor had a troubled upbringing. His childhood was marked by a lack of nurturing and support. As a young boy, he faced many challenges that may have influenced his later life.

Not much is known about his family background. However, it seems there were no positive role models to guide him. This absence of support likely played a role in his development and choices as he grew older. He struggled to find a sense of belonging or purpose in his early years.

Saylor became involved with the law as a teenager. He was convicted of burglary in 1988. This marked the beginning of his troubled relationship with the justice system. After serving time, he was released on probation in 1991.

Despite his difficulties, he managed to function well in the correctional system during his probation. He held a job and reportedly was a good employee. However, his past choices continued to haunt him. In 1992, he was involved in a serious crime that changed his life forever.

Murder Story

On June 18, 1992, Benny Lee Saylor committed a violent crime in Madison County, Indiana. The victim was Judy VanDuyn, a 41-year-old woman. that evening, Judy went to a laundromat on 8th Street in Anderson. As she was returning to her car with her laundry, Saylor confronted her with a knife. He forced her into her van and ordered her to drive to a remote area.

Later that night, a farmer checked on his property after a rainstorm. He noticed a van stuck in the mud and saw a woman in the driver's seat and a man in the passenger seat. After the couple told him they did not need help, the farmer went back to his home. Soon after, a neighbor discovered the van and suspected there had been an accident. Upon looking inside, he found Judy’s body. She had been stabbed approximately 45 times in the chest and abdomen.

Investigators found footprints inside and outside the van leading to a “Jordache” imprint. Judy’s husband had gone looking for her. He found the laundromat locked and took note of a car parked nearby, which turned out to be registered to Saylor. When questioned by the police, Saylor had scratches on his body and dried blood on his head. A search warrant revealed a pair of wet Jordache tennis shoes at his home.

During the trial, a fellow inmate testified that Saylor had confessed to the murder. He had been released from prison in 1991 on probation after a conviction for burglary. Saylor was charged with murder, felony murder, robbery, and confinement. The jury recommended life without parole, but on February 17, 1994, the judge sentenced Saylor to death. This decision was later changed to a sentence of 100 years in prison in 2004.