Fort Lewis soldier faces hearing in teen's overdose death

By Associated Press

Summary

Investigators say Timothy Bennitt brought Leah King and another girl to his barracks and gave them prescription drugs, which were then crushed and snorted through a dollar bill.

Story Published: May 18, 2009 at 1:37 PM PST

Story Updated: May 18, 2009 at 1:37 PM PST

Fort Lewis soldier faces hearing in teen's overdose death

Leah King is seen in a photo from her MySpace page.

FORT LEWIS, Wash. (AP) - A hearing is set to begin Tuesday for a Fort Lewis soldier charged with involuntary manslaughter in the drug overdose death of a 16-year-old girl.

Private Timothy E. Bennitt, 19, of Rolling Prairie, Ind., faces an Article 32 hearing in Leah King's death Feb. 15. Investigators say Bennitt brought King and another girl to his barracks and gave them prescription drugs, which were then crushed and snorted through a dollar bill.

The hearing will determine whether there's enough evidence to court-martial Bennitt, who also faces charges of wrongful use and distribution of controlled substances, and conspiracy to use controlled substances.

He could face 82 years in a military prison if convicted.

Bennitt is a heavy construction equipment operator who entered the military in June 2007. He deployed to Afghanistan from December 2007 through mid-May 2008.