A Montana resident, Kraig Walter Benson, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his wife and a local bartender, whom he suspected of having an affair. Benson, who was handed a 140-year sentence on Friday, was convicted in October 2024 for the deliberate homicide of his wife, Jenny Benson, 49, and Logan Gardner, 43, a bartender.
During the sentencing, the father of Jenny Benson expressed his hope that Benson would lead a miserable life in prison. Benson’s daughter also voiced her fear, stating that she did not feel safe knowing her father was alive. Benson’s sister, Kris Norton, expressed her sorrow over the incident, stating that the anger that had divided their family was a life sentence in itself.
The tragic incident occurred at the Four Aces Bar in Superior, Montana, on August 27, 2023. Surveillance footage from the bar and a neighboring business captured the entire event. The video showed Benson leaving the bar, retrieving a gun from his wife’s Chevrolet Tahoe, and returning to the bar. He then shot his wife and the bartender in the presence of other patrons.
Benson was apprehended shortly after the incident when his vehicle was spotted driving erratically on a highway in Missoula County. During his trial, Benson testified in his own defense, stating that his wife had told him she was going home with the bartender, not him. He apologized at his sentencing, expressing his love for his children and his loss of his best friend and love of his life.
Jenny Benson was remembered as a loving mother who owned a horse stable and ranch and worked as a self-employed commercial real estate appraiser. She was known for her love for her daughters, Paige and Tailor Benson, and her pets. Gardner, the bartender, was remembered as a friendly individual who could make friends with almost anyone.