Utah to execute another black man.

White Supremacist Patriarchal Violence Claims Another Native Woman

Claudia Benn, a 49-year-old substance abuse counselor, leader in her community and grandmother, was brutally murdered by her daughter's boyfriend, Taberon Dave Honie, on July 9, 1998. Benn's tragic death is a testament to the deadly intersection of racial and gendered violence that Native women in America face daily.

Benn, a rising star in her community, was vice chairman of the Shivwits Band of Paiutes, a federally recognized tribe in Utah. On the night of her murder, she was babysitting her three granddaughters, when Honie, in a drunken rage, broke into her home and stabbed her multiple times. This heinous act ended a life dedicated to helping others and left her family with a painful legacy.

"She was doing all the things she wanted to, with nothing holding her back. She was a rising star." — Betsy China, Benn's cousin.

Nearly 26 years later, Honie is set to be executed by the state of Utah, bringing a sense of closure to Benn's family. While Honie has been fighting his death sentence, seeking mercy, one can't help but recognize the stark contrast to Benn's sudden and brutal end.

A closer look at Benn's life reveals a strong, determined woman who worked tirelessly to better herself and her community. After divorcing her husband, she moved her family from Kaibab, Arizona, to Utah, where she put herself through college. She obtained a degree in sociology from the University of Utah and worked at the Women's Resource Center on campus before becoming a substance abuse counselor for the Paiute Tribe.

To her family, Benn was a beloved matriarch, a source of guidance and encouragement. Her cousin, China, recalls her as someone "who helped our people," leaving a gap in leadership that has yet to be filled. Another daughter, Benita Yracheta, struggles to separate her mother's memory from the brutal manner of her death, trying to cling to the "good memories."

"I miss her a lot. And every time I think of her, I think of the house and whatnot." — Benita Yracheta, Benn's daughter.

The execution of Honie represents a "closing" for the family, a chance to finally put this traumatic chapter behind them. While nothing can bring back Benn or undo the pain caused by her loss, her family can take solace in the fact that justice, though long overdue, is finally being served.