Benjamin Bonner looks at defense attorney Harry Gasnick during Bonner’s first appearance in Clallam County Superior Court in May. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)

Benjamin Bonner looks at defense attorney Harry Gasnick during Bonner’s first appearance in Clallam County Superior Court in May. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)

Report: Bonner can stand trial in beating death of Sequim-area woman

PORT ANGELES — A medicated Benjamin George Bonner has the capacity to understand the murder charge against him and the ability to assist in his own defense, a mental health report has concluded.

Bonner, 18, of Bainbridge Island is charged for allegedly beating Cynthia Little and her pet dog to death at Little’s Sequim-area residence May 4.

He has yet to be arraigned on charges of second-degree murder, first-degree robbery and first-degree animal cruelty.

Clallam County Superior Court Judge Christopher Melly ordered Bonner to receive involuntary medication to restore his competency Sept. 15.

An Aug. 3 assessment performed at Western State Hospital in Lakewood had said Bonner was not competent to stand trial.

Bonner met diagnostic criteria for unspecified schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorder and had a history of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, the Aug. 8 report said.

Bonner was re-evaluated Oct. 24 after weeks of taking olanzapine, an anti-psychotic medication.

The Oct. 27 report concluded that Bonner showed no symptoms of a mental disease or defect that would impair his ability to understand the charges against him or to assist defense attorney John Hayden of Clallam Public Defender.

“We therefore recommend that he return to court to resume adjudication of his pending criminal matters,” Dr. Jenna Tomei and pre-doctoral students Celia Arauz and Irina Owen concluded.

In a Friday court hearing, Hayden said he would like to have another doctor review the Oct. 27 report and moved for a two-week continuance, according to the minutes off the hearing.

Superior Court Judge Erik Rohrer granted the continuance and reset the review hearing for Nov. 17.

The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office alleged that Bonner took his adoptive parents’ SUV without their permission to Little’s Sunland residence and beat the 71-year-old to death with a fireplace poker.

A dog was found lying dead near Little’s body along with the tool that Bonner allegedly used to kill Little before driving her car to Bainbridge Island, Sheriff’s Det. Brian Knutson said in the affidavit for probable cause.

Little, a child advocate, was described in court papers as a “grandmother figure” to Bonner.

Bonner allegedly killed Little one day after being released from a mental health treatment facility for threatening his mother and harming a cat.

He had been treated with pain medication for a dental procedure and had an adjustment to his anti-psychotic medication on or about April 30, court papers said.

After the adjustment, Bonner had mental episodes, heard voices and suffered hallucinations, Knutson wrote in the May 4 arrest report.

Bonner claimed that his best friend was an android, Knutson said.

“He denied having any current beliefs about ‘androids’ and stated, ‘I wasn’t thinking right’ when directly questioned about these thoughts,” the Oct. 27 report said.

“Further, he denied that his previous delusional ideations would have any bearing on his ability to proceed to trial.”

The charges against Bonner carry vulnerable victim, deliberate cruelty and deadly weapon enhancements.

Bonner is being held in the Clallam County jail on $1.5 million bail.

________

Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.

More in Crime

Two men are now serving prison time for beating an employee last October at the AM/PM in Carlsborg and attempting to take his wallet. Joshua Pulliam, 28, pleaded guilty on Dec. 18 to conspiracy to commit first-degree burglary and will serve a year in prison, while Julian Treat, 30, pleaded guilty Jan. 21 and was sentenced to two years in prison. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Second man pleads guilty to Carlsborg AM/PM burglary

Two-year sentence includes drug treatment, mental health evaluation

Sequim Police investigators report they continue to submit items for DNA and fingerprint evidence to discover person behind the murder of Sequim’s Valerie Claplanhoo in January 2019. (Rebecca Ruby)
Claplanhoo homicide investigation ongoing

Alliance with Missing and Murdered Indigenous team continues

Port Angeles man charged with murder to have hearing Feb. 21

Marquise Gregory Hagans-Moore, who is accused of killing a… Continue reading

Cold case solved through geneology analysis

PA police say DNA links Quilcene man to 1988 sexual assaults

January trial set for men charged with burglary at AM/PM in Carlsborg

Men allegedly assaulted AM/PM employee during October incident

Surveillance footage released by the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office shows a suspect allegedly holding a Frugals employee at gunpoint on Thursday. (Clallam County Sheriff’s Office)
Police: Frugals robbed at gunpoint

Frugals was robbed at gunpoint on Thursday and law… Continue reading

Deputies seize 36 livestock animals

Dead sheep found on property

Man investigated in coffee stand burglary

A 29-year-old man was arrested on investigation of second-degree… Continue reading

Man accused of second-degree murder pleads not guilty

Trial date slated for May in Clallam County Superior Court

Jefferson deputies investigating male body found in Port Ludlow

Sheriff’s office says autopsy will confirm manner of death

Prosecuting attorney reviewing fatal shooting

Final report will be made public, Nichols says

Report: Man is competent for trial

Hagans-Moore to be arraigned Nov. 19