Because he lacked formal education, Atkins was forced to work in low-skilled labor jobs for low wages, and spent the nights at homeless shelters.

Most of his acquaintances claimed to be very fond of him, but at the same time noted that when drunk or on drugs, he showed signs of an antisocial personality and displayed misogynistic behavior.

On January 3, 1992, while demolishing an abandoned house, workmen discovered the body of 36-year-old Patricia Cannon George, who had been put on a wanted list in early December 1991 following a drug den bust within Woodward Corridor.

On February 17, the corpses of three women were found in three separate rooms in the former Monterey Hotel in Highland Park: they were 34-year-old Valerie Chalk, 23-year-old Juanita Hardy and an unidentified Jane Doe.

On April 9, the body of 38-year-old Brenda Mitchell was found in an abandoned house, after she had gone missing four days earlier with her two kids to go to the store.

[1] He stated that he lured his victims into abandoned houses by offering them drugs and alcohol, in addition to paying for their sexual services.

[13] Contrary to the official version of the investigation, Atkins revealed that the first victim had actually been Patricia George, whom he killed in the fall of 1991.

[14] Since no physical evidence could be found to incriminate him, Atkins was charged solely based on Saunders' testimony and his own confession.

According to the lawyer, the psychological trauma, coupled with drug addiction, eventually led to his mental, emotional and behavioral problems.

However, after a four-month trial and three days of deliberations, the jury found Benjamin Atkins guilty, and in April of that year, he was sentenced to several terms of life imprisonment.