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Two Charged With Murder in Belle Plains Mystery

 By KJ MUSHUNG

Stuart Lee Sullivan is one of two suspects in the murder of Plaster.
Stuart Lee Sullivan is one of two suspects in the murder of Plaster.

STAFFORD COUNTY, Va. — The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office has arrested two suspects in the death of the person whose remains were found on the property of 881 Belle Plains Road in Stafford County on March 21.

In a press release, the sheriff’s office identified the human remains as those of Jason Plaster, a resident of Stafford County who was reported missing by family members in July of 2007. Plaster was 31 years old when he was reported missing.

The two suspects are William “Bill” Joseph Hughes, age 44, of 39 Mickelson Lane in Stafford, and Stuart Lee Sullivan, age 49, of 1 North Jenny Lane in Fredericksburg.

Both men have been charged with one count of first degree murder and one count of the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. They are being held at the Rappahannock Regional Jail under no bond.

Hughes was arrested as his place of employment, Scooter’s Works on Cambridge Street in south Stafford at 7 p.m., March 29. Sullivan was arrested at the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office shortly after 6 p.m., the same night.

William Joseph Hughes is one of two suspects in the murder of Plaster.
William Joseph Hughes is one of two suspects in the murder of Plaster.

Bill Kennedy, public information officer of the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office, would not say how the remains were determined to be Plaster. He did say that Plaster died of gunshot wounds.

The investigation began when a search warrant was carried out at the Belle Plains Road property on March 14. While there, detectives arrested Dennis Paul Benzie, 58, for drug and gun-related charges. Stafford County courts system lists 12 charges so far. Dennis’ wife, Sheila Benzie, is listed in land records as being the sole owner of the property. However, she died of cancer on Jan. 11 at Mary Washington Hospital, according to Major David Decatur of the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office and an obituary on the website of Covenant Funeral Home.

Law enforcement officials have not said whether Benzie is also a suspect. Kennedy said the only suspects they have are the two who were arrested.

Additional charges are pending in this case.

 

The remains of Jason Plaster were found on the property of 881 Belle Plains Road. [Photo: Mary Davidson / Potomac Local News]
The remains of Jason Plaster were found on the property of 881 Belle Plains Road. [Photo: Mary Davidson / Potomac Local News]

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