Decades-Old Hiking Trail Murder Solved: Serial Predator’s DNA Links Him to College Student’s Brutal Killing

Authorities have made a breakthrough in a decades-old cold case that shocked the quiet town of Prescott. Yavapai County Sheriff David Rhodes announced during a press conference that new DNA evidence has definitively linked Bryan Scott Bennett, a man who took his own life in 1994, to the brutal 1987 murder of 23-year-old college student Catherine “Cathy” Sposito. The young woman was brutally attacked and killed while hiking on the Thumb Butte Trail. The confirmation of Bennett’s involvement has prompted authorities to consider the possibility of additional victims, as they believe he may have targeted other women as well.

Cathy Sposito’s tragic death on the peaceful Thumb Butte Trail had remained a mystery for decades, leaving the community shaken. Sposito was assaulted in a seemingly unprovoked attack, and her life was cut short in a horrifying manner. Other hikers in the vicinity had heard her cries for help, but by the time they reached her, it was too late. The recent discovery that Bennett, a junior at Prescott High School at the time, was responsible for Sposito’s murder has shed light on a series of disturbing events that unfolded in the area during the early ’90s. Bennett’s history of violence, including a sexual assault on the same trail and other attacks, has raised concerns about potential additional victims.

The breakthrough in solving this chilling case came thanks to advancements in DNA technology. In 2017, investigators were able to identify a descendant of Bennett and connect it to a separate attack on the Thumb Butte Trail in 1990. This breakthrough ultimately led them to conclusively link Bennett to Sposito’s tragic death as well. The revelation has provided a sense of closure and validation for the families of Bennett’s victims, and authorities are now urging anyone with information related to the Sposito murder or Bryan Scott Bennett to come forward and assist in shedding more light on these disturbing events. The community hopes that by bringing these hidden truths to the surface, they can prevent such tragedies from happening in the future.

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