Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - A Cheektowaga man has been convicted of killing his estranged wife in front of her children in 2022. A jury took about an hour to convict Adam Bennefield on all counts in the case against him.
In October 2022, prosecutors say Bennefield crashed his pickup truck into his estranged wife’s vehicle while she was stopped in the area of Richlawn Avenue and Shawnee Avenue in the City of Buffalo. The victim and her three children were inside of the vehicle at the time of the collision.
After the crash, Bennefield exited his vehicle, approached 30-year-old Ke’Aira Bennefield and shot her. Bennefield, also known as Ke’Aira S. Hudson, died at the scene.
The victim’s three children witnessed the homicide of their mother.
Bennefield committed the crime while knowingly in violation of an order of protection issued after his arrest for a prior domestic violence-related incident involving the same victim.
"This was a callous, cold-blooded murder committed by a defendant who intentionally shot his estranged wife in the head in the presence of her three small children," said Erie County District Attorney Michael Keane on Wednesday. "I commend the victim’s daughter for having the strength and courage to testify against her mother’s killer. On behalf of Ke’Aira Hudson and her family, we will be asking the Court to impose the maximum term of incarceration at sentencing."
Keane says the victim was wearing a bulletproof vest when the shooting had occurred.
"Ke'Aira was doing exactly what she should have done, in terms of the safety planning. She was concerned and in fear for her life," stated Keane. "She was actually wearing a bulletproof vest on the day when she was driving these driving her daughter to school, and the day this horrific crime happened, unfortunately, that didn't save her life."
Bennefield was convicted of second degree murder, aggravated criminal contempt, and endangering the welfare of a child. He faces a maximum of 25 years-to-life in prison when he is sentenced before State Supreme Court Justice M. William Boller on Friday, Dec. 20 at 2 p.m. EST.
He remains held without bail.