A convicted murderer from National City was sentenced Wednesday to 83 years and eight months in prison and it was revealed his victim’s skull has been recovered in Campo.
Brian Eleron Hancock, 49, said nothing before San Diego Superior Court Judge Joan Weber imposed 25 years to life for the 2017 slaying of Peter Bentz, 68.
Weber added 25 years for Hancock’s arson conviction when he burned up his brother-in-law’s trailer in 1999. He got another 25 years for a 2003 residential burglary plus eight years and eight months for transportation of methamphetmine and another burglary.
“Rarely has this court seen a more diabolical crime,” said Weber.
Deputy District Attorney Jeffrey Dort revealed in court that a biologist discovered the skull of Bentz in Campo in 2018, but it was not until last month that dental records confirmed it was his skull.
Weber excluded mention of the skull to the jury because the trial had already started to ensure fairness to Hancock, said his attorney, Jimmy Rodriguez.
Weber had issued a gag order upon the attorneys and victim’s survivors about the existence of the skull, but the gag order was lifted Wednesday at his sentencing.
Dort said the skull was found 500 feet from where a hatchet was discovered from previous law enforcement searches that included a cadiver dog. Dort said the skull was buried, but dug up by coyotes in the area. No other body parts were found.
Initially, investigators thought the skull was of a Hispanic male who was 30 to 50 years old, said Dort, but it was the comparison of Bentz’s dental records that confirmed it was his.
Hancock’s phone was in the Campo area for 4 ½ hours on Nov. 24, 2017, according to cell phone records cited by Dort. Bentz was last seen alive on Nov. 21, 2017, while leaving a gym.
“It really does close a chapter,” said Dort about the skull’s discovery.
Dort said Hancock “chopped up his body and took it to the hills of Campo.” He said Hancock used Bentz’s credit cards “to purchase his own dismembering equipment.”
Kirk Bentz, the victim’s brother said he thought the sentence handed down was “true and just.”
“He should never set foot outside prison,” said Bentz. “He’ll die in prison.”
Weber told Hancock of “terrorizing your own wife” with “abusive calls” before his arrest and later in jail.
Angelina Hancock testified about statements her husband told her and his behavior around the time of the homicide. She signed a cooperation agreement with the DA’s office in which they agreed not to charge with accessory after the fact.
Angelina and Brian Hancock had been married for 20 years but they are now divorced.
Weber said Hancock’s crimes were “always about revenge” and noted that he had claimed he stabbed Bentz seven times because he thought Bentz had videotaped him having sex with another woman.
Weber said it was “doubtful that video ever existed,” but the motive to kill Bentz came from Hancock’s mind for revenge.
“Mr. Hancock, you deserve to never step outside a prison for the rest of your life,” said Weber.
Investigators found Bentz’s blood in 17 locations throughout his Ocean Beach apartment. His identification and other papers were found scattered near a freeway, and his car was discovered in Mira Mesa with the keys in the ignition.
Bentz’s brother filed a missing person’s report after he did not show up for Thanksgiving at their San Pedro home. “We will forever associate Thanksgiving with Peter’s murder,” said Kirk Bentz in court.
Gilda Baslee, a friend of Peter Bentz, asked Hancock in a letter read outloud in court to “do one decent thing and reveal where you buried Peter.”
Hancock received credits for 629 days spent in jail since his arrest.
