Manuel Benitez | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1969-09-28)September 28, 1969 Coral Gables, Florida, United States |
| Died | December 23, 2008(2008-12-23) (aged 39) El Monte, California, United States |
| Other names | Mark Everett |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1980–1988 |
| Partner | Stephanie Spears (1996–2004) |
| Children | Benjamin Everett |
Manuel Benitez (September 28, 1969 – December 23, 2008), who went by thestage nameMark Everett, was an Americanchild actor in Hollywood films and afugitive wanted by theFBI for themurder of his girlfriend in 2004.[1] On December 23, 2008, he was shot and killed by police officers responding to a hostage situation in El Monte, California.[2]
Manuel Benitez was the illegitimate son of the internationally famous bullfighter Manuel Benitez, known as "El Cordobés" (not to be confused with the younger bullfighter with the same name who claimed to be El Cordobés' illegitimate son-known in bullfighting circles as "The Pretender"). Spanishpaparazzi followed the real El Cordobés and Benitez's mother, Alina Elizabeth Velasco throughout the world as they partied through the 1970s. Their relationship ended in a bitter five-year court dispute, with Velasco moving to Los Angeles to hire lawyerMarvin Mitchelson to seek support for her and her son.
Benitez was nine years old when he began his acting career. His early roles in Hollywood were guided by child agent,Iris Burton. He starred in commercials, TV shows and movies. His roles included parts inBe Somebody... or Be Somebody's Fool!,Pee-wee's Big Adventure andStand and Deliver. He also appeared in theTV showsGalactica 1980 andHighway to Heaven.[1]
Benitez had no major acting work since 1988 when he met Stephanie Spears in 1996. The two moved in together and had one child, Benjamin Everett. Benitez never told Spears or anyone else about his former days as a child actor.[1] According to the FBI, Benitez sold drugs to supplement the money he made doing odd jobs.[1][3]
Benitez was arrested on drug charges in 2000 and convicted for possession of a concealed and illegal loaded firearm in his son's stroller in 2003 and was sentenced toprobation.[1][3]
His girlfriend eventually decided to end their relationship. On the night of June 20, 2004, Benitez tried to leave with their son while Spears was asleep. After she woke up and tried to stop him, an argument ensued. Benitez allegedly beat her numerous times with adumbbell, killing her in front of their three-year-old child before fleeing theirHawthorne, California home with him.[1][3]
Benitez and his son Benjamin were believed to be traveling with his mother, Alina Elizabeth Velasco, who disappeared after Spears' murder.[4][5] They were sighted in theMedford, Oregon area in December 2004.[3]
On May 11, 2005, a state warrant was issued by the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, for Benitez's arrest after he was charged with murder. Benitez was charged federally with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution and anarrest warrant was issued by the United States District Court, Central District of California, on March 21, 2006.
The FBI was offering a reward of up to $20,000 for information leading to the arrest of Benitez.[2] He was featured onAmerica's Most Wanted several times.[1]
On December 23, 2008, police received a call about a suspicious man with a child.[5] A police officer and witnesses noticed a man take a boy off of the sidewalk and go into a restaurant inEl Monte, California. Soon after that, ahostage standoff ensued and Benitez ignored the officers' orders to stop and barricaded himself inside the restaurant bathroom with his son.[5] Benitez told police during negotiations that he was going to shoot police and harm his seven-year-old son whom he held hostage for two hours. One employee of a nearby Mexican restaurant said Benitez had the boy in a headlock and held a gun to his head as he sought a place to hold him.[2]
Police closed nearby streets, and shoppers were evacuated from neighboring stores as dozens of police officers and other emergency crews surrounded the restaurant. Police threw aflash-bang grenade inside and exchanged gunfire with Benitez, killing him. Benitez was declared dead at aChinese restaurant in an El Monte strip mall. His son was shot in the thigh but survived.[2][5]
Benitez was later found to have asemi-automatic pistol and arevolver.[2] Alina Elizabeth Velasco has not been located.[4][5]