PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A Philadelphia man will spend his life behind bars after he pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the death of his ex-girlfriend from Delaware County.
Benjamin Boykins, 34, admitted to killing Tanika Kirkpatrick in November 2020.
According to the Delaware County District Attorney's Office, Boykins told investigators that while he was at Kirkpatrick's house, he found pictures on her cellphone of her with other men. He became enraged and strangled the 43-year-old Lansdowne mother to death.
He dumped her body in a trash can at his house. Kirkpatrick was reported missing.
Three days before her death, Kirkpatrick obtained an emergency protection from abuse order against Boykins.
After the killing, Boykins took off to Michigan but was arrested a few months later.
He was also charged with second- and third-degree murder, criminal homicide, kidnapping, tampering with evidence, and abuse of a corpse.
He was sentenced Monday and will spend the automatic life behind bars.
