Benjamin Beale is in court today for a simple assault charge, which is the first court hearing in a long list of charges Beale faces after the headless torso of a woman was found in a freezer inside a bus on his property earlier this month.
On Saturday, detectives added the new charge of simple assault after allegations surrounding Beale surfaced and prompted Beale’s ex-wife to contact police about the abuse she allegedly suffered from Beale’s mistreatment.
The unidentified woman, who was briefly married to Beale in March 2021, came forward to authorities saying Beale, also known as Kelley Kirkpatrick, would threaten to cut her up into pieces like ‘Dexter’, a fictional character in a TV show about a serial killer who kills bad people.
Beale was arrested after the torso of a woman, believed to be that of missing girlfriend Julia Dardar, was discovered by authorities.
A methamphetamine lab and a gun were also found by investigators during a search of Beale’s home on Pauline Street in New Orleans last week.
Beale faces a total of eight charges ranging from drug charges to a second-degree murder charge.
Beale’s next court hearing will be on March 13 for the drug lab charges and March 16 for the second-degree murder charge.
