After an investigation into a body discovered on the side of I-44, it was determined that the victim, Jesse Gilmore, 63, from Oklahoma, was shot in the head on the parking lot of the Road Ranger gas station, 2101 S. Prigmore Ave. There are two suspects in this case and both have been arrested.
According to the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department, one of the suspects, Adin Aman Cantarero Benitez, 26, approached the victim who was sitting in his car on the parking lot at approximately 3:30 a.m. on Sept. 16, 2024. Adin Benitez had a brief conversation with the victim and then shot him. Adin then got into the victim’s car, the red Chevy Cobalt, and briefly met with the other suspect, Jose Cantarero Benitez, 20, behind the gas station. They then both drove east on I-44 and pulled over at the 14.8 mile marker where they pulled the victim out of the car and into the ditch.
The two suspects, one driving the victim’s car and the other driving a blue Toyota Tundra pickup, then drove to Independence, Mo. Adin was subsequently arrested for DWI at approximately 10 p.m. on Sept. 16, in Independence. At that time, it was not known to law enforcement about his connection with the Jasper County incident.
On Sept. 17, just after 5 p.m., the Independence Police Department was called in reference to the second suspect, Jose Benitez, who had attempted to carjack another vehicle and shot a woman in the chest. He fled that scene and was later arrested by KCPD after they had received a call of another woman that he had pistol whipped. After a foot pursuit, he was arrested. The female victim that was shot is reportedly in critical condition.
The two suspects in this case are brothers and both are illegal immigrants from Honduras. Charges for first-degree murder, armed criminal action and first-degree robbery have been submitted on Adin Benitez to the Jasper County Prosecutor. Charges on Jose Benitez are expected to be filed.
The red Chevy Cobalt was recovered in Kansas City. The autopsy on Gilmore is still scheduled for Friday, Sept. 20.
