INDEPENDENCE TOWNSHIP — A Philadelphia man has been held for trial on charges he fatally stabbed his girlfriend then dumped her body in a rural part of northwestern New Jersey. Prosecutors say 23-three-year-old Stephen Benford has confessed to the killing of 22-year-old Gina Schickling. Her body was found several days after she was last seen at a Philadelphia club...
Independence Township Police Chief Dennis Riley removes police tape surrounding a property off the first block of Asbury Road, where they discovered Benford's girlfriend's body.INDEPENDENCE TOWNSHIP — A Philadelphia man has been held for trial on charges he fatally stabbed his girlfriend then dumped her body in a rural part of northwestern New Jersey.
Prosecutors say 23-three-year-old Stephen Benford has confessed to the killing of 22-year-old Gina Schickling.
Her body was found several days after she was last seen at a Philadelphia club on June 30.
Assistant District Attorney Jodi Lobel said at a hearing today that Schickling was stabbed nearly 60 times. Her body was discovered in Independence Township, N.J., behind Benford's parents' former home.
Benford has also been charged in another nonfatal stabbing outside a bar five months before Schickling's death.
It was not immediately clear if Benford had an attorney.
Previous LehighValleyLive.com coverage:
• Philadelphia man charged with homicide in connection with body dumped in Independence Township
• Phila. man with Warren County ties allegedly dumps girlfriend's body in Independence Township