THE DARK SIDE OF FLORIDA
Bernard Beaton
#079537
photo courtesy FDOC
Full Name: Bernard James Beaton
Date of birth: May 11, 1958
Conviction: 2nd-degree murder
County: Seminole
City: Sanford
Current Location: Dade Correctional Institution
Date of crime: January 14, 1981
Tentative discharge date: Life
Victim(s): Tiffany Benthall
Date of birth: May 11, 1958
Conviction: 2nd-degree murder
County: Seminole
City: Sanford
Current Location: Dade Correctional Institution
Date of crime: January 14, 1981
Tentative discharge date: Life
Victim(s): Tiffany Benthall
A stubborn child, a drunken man and a judo-type blow to the stomach contributed to the January 14, 1981, death of a 2-year-old Sanford girl. Bernard Beaton, 22, was accused of killing Tiffany Benthall, the daughter of his girlfriend, Rosalind Realford. The child died of a lacerated liver and other internal injuries about four hours after she was discovered urinating blood and staggering like she was drunk.
Police were alerted to the possibility of homicide in Tiffany’s death by Seminole Memorial Hospital personnel after cuts, scrapes and bruises were noted on the child’s head and face.
In the police interviews with Bernard, he insisted Tiffany injured herself by falling on railroad tracks during a walk. He denied he had been drinking at the time. But in the second tape, Bernard told detectives he was “high” on beer when he took the child for a walk. He said Tiffany refused to listen to him and it frustrated him. Angered, Bernard told police he slapped Tiffany in the stomach with the side of his hand. The blow knocked the toddler to the ground, he said. Bernard then yanked Tiffany to his shoulder, but said he pulled too hard and sent her flying across his shoulder and she landed on her head about five feet behind him.
Police were alerted to the possibility of homicide in Tiffany’s death by Seminole Memorial Hospital personnel after cuts, scrapes and bruises were noted on the child’s head and face.
In the police interviews with Bernard, he insisted Tiffany injured herself by falling on railroad tracks during a walk. He denied he had been drinking at the time. But in the second tape, Bernard told detectives he was “high” on beer when he took the child for a walk. He said Tiffany refused to listen to him and it frustrated him. Angered, Bernard told police he slapped Tiffany in the stomach with the side of his hand. The blow knocked the toddler to the ground, he said. Bernard then yanked Tiffany to his shoulder, but said he pulled too hard and sent her flying across his shoulder and she landed on her head about five feet behind him.
Source: Orlando Sentinel