The protracted investigation into the death of Benjamin Anderson has moved one step further as the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) has officially proposed charges to the county attorney against a father and son. According to reports by FOX 10 Phoenix, the body of 41-year-old Anderson was found in the Maricopa County desert on New Year's Eve of 2021, marking the start of a lengthy inquiry. It was only recently, nearly four years after Anderson was reported missing and subsequently found dead, that the MCSO has submitted charges against Jaden Matthew Kaufman, 24, and his father, 46-year-old Richard D. Kaufman.
Among the charges Jaden Kaufman is set to potentially face include first-degree murder, robbery, arson, theft of means, tampering with evidence, and abandonment or concealment of a dead body. While Jaden remains in the custody of the Department of Corrections, details concerning the charges for his father Richard are still to be decided upon review by the county attorney. As the case unfolds, it is conceivable that these charges could change, as noted by authorities involved in the matter.
Anderson's tragic demise became known after his burned car was found near Interstate 17 and Table Mesa Road, shortly followed by the discovery of his body in a nearby desert locale. Friends and family had reported him missing the night he went missing, showcasing the urgency and despair that has since latched onto this case. The incident, shrouded in mystery, left his loved ones grappling for answers about the connection between Anderson and his accused killers. "Do we know, any of his friends, or any of us know them? Do they have friends that know them? Trying to piece together the different pathways that could connect Ben to these two individuals. We have yet to find one," Daniel Stahoviak, a friend of Anderson's, told FOX 10 Phoenix.
In the wake of this ongoing investigation, a GoFundMe has been established in Anderson's honor, aiming to collect donations for the reward leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for his death. In a show of this community's spirit, the page also indicates that if the funds are not used for the reward, they will be directed to the PetFinder Foundation, a non-profit animal charity chosen by Ben's family. In a developing story as sad as it is complex, more information is expected to be released. 12News reached out for further details but the Maricopa County Attorney's Office declined to comment, at the present time, on the specifics of the case.
