Elgin boy second charged in teen's November murder

An Elgin boy joined his mother in being charged in connection with the November death of a 17-year-old man in Elgin, officials said Tuesday afternoon.

Lacorbek Benion, 16, whose last known address was on the 1300 block of Todd Farm Drive, Elgin, was indicted March 23 on three counts of first-degree murder in the Nov. 8, 2009, death of John W. Keyes III, the Kane County state's attorney's office announced.

Also charged is Benion's mother, Timera D. Branch, 34, of the 200 block of Monarch Drive, Streamwood, who already faces two counts of first-degree murder.

Police say Branch was with her 32-year-old sister and 13-year-old son when she crashed her 1991 Chrysler Imperial into an apartment building on the 200 block of Center Street, crushing Keyes against the building.

Afterward, court documents state, Lacorbek Benion taunted Keyes and struck him in the head at least twice with a baseball bat, causing Keyes' death.

Relatives of Keyes have said the teenager was killed a day after he punched Benion at a party during a dispute over a girl.

Around 4 p.m. Nov. 8, police say, Branch was driving and talking on a cell phone when she spotted Keyes and asked, "Is that him?" before accelerating into him. Benion then arrived in another vehicle with four or five friends, according to court records.

Keyes was bleeding and unresponsive when police arrived, and he died a short time later at Sherman Hospital. Police said Branch drove to nearby Kimball Street, leaving a trail of fluid from her car.

Officials said Benion was arrested last week in Earle, Ark. He waived extradition and was returned to the area Monday. He remained in the Kane County Juvenile Justice Center on Tuesday and would have to post $300,000 cash to be released.

Branch, who has pleaded not guilty, also remains in the county jail, with an upcoming court date of June 3. Benion is scheduled to appear Thursday in front of Associate Judge Allen M. Anderson.