Death sentence handed down for 66-year-old Otto Lenke in Fort Pierce killing case

FORT PIERCE, Fla. (CBS12) — Otto Lenke, convicted of killing Fort Pierce motorcycle shop owner Richard Benson, was sentenced to death Tuesday.

Lenke, 66, was found guilty of first-degree murder and arson in May 2026 for Benson’s 2021 death.

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Prosecutors said Lenke shot Benson at Fast Frank’s Custom Cycle Components, then poured denatured alcohol on him and set him on fire while he was still alive. The crime happened just down the street from the Fort Pierce Police Department.

Investigators say the motive stemmed from a personal relationship. According to prosecutors, Benson had been dating a woman who previously had a relationship with Lenke.

During the murder trial, prosecutors argued that the murder was fueled by jealousy, claiming that Lenke couldnt accept that the vicitm was dating someone from his past.

The prosecutor says Lenke carefully planned the murder and used a car that day that belonged to his daughter, a car which people would not associate him with and he cut up the gun and disposed of it in pieces.

Lenke is a former Melbourne police officer and Indian River County firefighter.