On paper, Christopher Bennett sure sounds like a textbook "bad guy." Nearly 20 years ago, at the age of 18, the Virginia man walked into his stepfather's home, aimed a gun at his head, and pulled the trigger. He was ultimately convicted of murder and sentenced to an astonishing 1,800 years in prison for the crime.
But according to his family, Christopher isn't a stone cold killer — instead, he's a hero. In fact, his mother and two half-sisters recently appeared on an episode of Dr. Phil to proclaim his innocence. But the most moving interview was with Bennett's half-sister, Cassandra "Cassie" McDorman, who said the only reason he killed their father in the first place was to protect Cassie and her sister from ongoing abuse.
Bennett never denied shooting his stepfather, Vincent McDorman. But to this day, he insists he was justified.
For years, the native of Craigsville, Virginia, has said that he went to his stepfather's home the night of July 25, 2003, with the intention of picking up a check. At the time, the teen said that Vincent McDorman had convinced him to testify against his mother in an upcoming custody hearing, and even offered payment. But just as the teen arrived, he overheard a disturbing conversation that horrified him.
From outside the home, Bennett could hear the voice of his 6-year-old half-sister, Victoria "Viccy" McDorman, who sounded traumatized. Then, clear as day, he could hear her pleading with her father — begging him to stop touching her.
Bennett quickly forced his way into the home, where he says he caught his stepfather molesting Viccy McDorman.
In the moments that followed, Bennett shot and killed Vincent McDorman, and then stole his checkbook. The teen was ultimately charged with murder, breaking and entering, and robbery — all three of which he was pleaded guilty to in court.
When the plea bargain was offered, his family was shocked at the choice the teen was presented with.
"It was going to be a death sentence or he could take a plea deal of 1,800 years," Viccy McDorman told WHSV in 2020. "So, he took a plea deal of 1,800 years."
For years, Bennett's family has been trying to get him freed.
They've organized local rallies and protests begging the governor of Virginia to overturn his conviction, and even launched a Change.org petition calling for his release. (To date, it has well over 150,000 of the 200,000 signatures it needs.)
But during their recent interview with Dr. Phil, Bennett's two half-sisters — as well as his mom, Elizabeth "Libby" Ailstock — went one step further in explaining why their brother needs to be set free.
According to Cassie McDorman, the abuse that she and her sister Viccy McDorman endured as children was horrific.
Vincent wasn't just physically violent with his children — he was also sexually abusive. Both women have said that their father frequently molested them whenever he was alone with them, and they were powerless to stop him.
"When my dad wanted you to stay in his room that night, you would go catch fireflies with him beforehand, and that's how you knew it was your turn," Cassie told Dr. Phil. "The night that Chris killed Vincent, it was Viccy's turn to stay in Vincent's room."
The next thing she knew, her 6-year-old sister was running upstairs to tell her their dad had been shot.
Watch the video above to hear more about the disturbing case, including the 20-year fight to free Christopher Bennett.
Source: cafemom.com
