A domestic dispute in Ridgeland, South Carolina, ended in homicide on December 3, 2022. Bethany Carol Bennett, 37, and her romantic partner, 41-year-old Jamia Michael Douglas Almodoval, argued at the Siesta Motel on South Jacob Smart Boulevard after Bennett believed Almodoval had taken her cellphone. The argument became physical when Bennett allegedly used a knife and cut Almodoval’s hand. Almodoval left the room, returned, and locked Bennett out; while she pounded on the door he fired a rifle through it, striking her twice — once in the arm and once in the chest.

Emergency responders found Bennett and transported her to Coastal Carolina Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead at about 6 p.m. Almodoval had a knife wound to his hand and was arrested and charged with murder; he was held at Jasper County Detention Center pending a bond hearing. An autopsy was scheduled at the Medical University of South Carolina and the Ridgeland Police Department continued its investigation.

Did anyone know Bethany or have information about what happened at the Siesta Motel that evening?