Small Town Murder – "Murderer Mayor - Pembroke, New York"
Podcast Hosts: James Pietragallo & Jimmie Whisman
Episode Air Date: March 21, 2026

Episode Overview

This week, James and Jimmy travel to Pembroke, New York, a small rural town with midwestern vibes, not far from Buffalo. The episode centers around the bizarre and grim case of Scott Dahl: a beloved correctional officer, volunteer firefighter, owner of a used car lot, and, as fate would have it, the leading Republican candidate for mayor of a neighboring village—until he was arrested for the brutal bludgeoning murder of his business partner.

The duo provides their trademark darkly comedic commentary while piecing together a tale full of small-town quirks, police procedure follies, a puzzling crime scene, and a defendant whose alibi is almost as suspicious as the blood covering him on the night of the murder.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Introducing Pembroke & Corfu, NY (04:41 - 13:43)

• Location and Demographics: Pembroke is a rural, tight-knit Western New York town (~4,200 people), not far from Buffalo, featuring a lot of open space, low crime, and cheap houses.
• Small-Town Flavor: The hosts riff on local festivals, band names (“Public Water Supply,” “The Floyd Concept”), and clubs (the mysterious Kiwanis Club).
• Local Review Humor: James reads odd and amusing town reviews—one reviewer raves about how much “country” there is, another claims their heaven would be composed of Pembroke's people (09:28).

Scott Dahl: Model Citizen or Model Defendant? (14:17 - 22:45)

• Background: By 2009, Scott is 46, a corrections officer for 25 years, local volunteer firefighter, and longtime church member. “He's a real Mr. Corfu. Everybody knows who he is, what he's going to do, where he goes on Sunday.” (15:05, James)
• Busy & Broke: Despite his successful careers, he’s $28,000 in debt, mostly due to a divorce.
• Side Business: Dahl runs SF Enterprises, flipping used cars with retired corrections officer Joseph Bennequist (20:59).

Setting the Crime Scene: Broken Jacks & Failed Auctions (23:07 - 27:24)

• Sequence of Events: Bennequist purchases a used Pontiac G6. On February 16, 2009, he and Josh Dahl (Scott’s son) are scheduled to take the vehicle to an auction, but things get derailed by a flat tire and a broken jack.
• Scott’s Role: Scott borrows his mom’s Ford Windstar to try and find Bennequist and Josh when they don’t show up at the auction.

Suspicious Night Walk & Arrest (29:41 - 36:18)

• The 911 Call: At 8:41 pm, a passing firefighter reports a man in full camouflage and a white hood, carrying a lug wrench, jack, and screwdriver—with “wet blood stains on his knees, thighs, hands, and shoes” (32:43).

• Police Blunders: Despite all the red flags, and after flashing his corrections officer ID, Scott gets a nonchalant police escort back to his blood-spattered van. Only when a witness confirms he’s the suspicious person do police finally detain him (36:16).

  “He pulled out his New York State Corrections Officer card, which kind of helps him a little bit. So the cop now treats him differently because he’s one of the crew there.” (34:17, James)

Discovery of the Crime & Botched Forensics (40:23 - 48:20)

• Body Found: At 1:30 am, police discover Bennequist dead in his driveway—barely visible between two parked cars, skull caved in, hands cut defending himself, frozen over.

• Key Details: The attack was frenzied and bloody; medical experts say Bennequist might have suffered for up to four hours before dying (42:06).

• Forensic Mishaps: Police fail to test likely murder weapons (flashlight, chunk of wood, lug wrench), and crucial forensic steps—like DNA under fingernails—aren’t completed or recorded (47:58).

  “They did as thorough a search as they could in the dark…” (42:46, James)

• Motives Considered: Disputes about a missing $10,000 car payment, and forged or missing vehicle paperwork surface during the investigation.

The Mayoral Race…While In Jail (51:27 - 51:47)

• Scott’s Political Run: In a classic “only in a small town” moment, Scott remains on the mayoral ballot for Corfu while awaiting trial for murder. He loses, but still gets votes (“He does not get shut out…He gets votes!” 52:19, James).

Scott Dahl’s Defense: “I Only Held Him As He Died!” (53:05 - 55:24)

• Alibi: Scott claims he found Bennequist already dying and only knelt beside him as he expired, acquiring blood “the honest way.”

• Throwing Son Under Bus: He alleges Bennequist’s dying words implicated Scott’s own son, Josh, as perpetrator.

• Implausibility: No 911 call, no CPR attempt, and the type of blood spatter on Scott’s clothing is more consistent with that found on an assailant, not a bystander.

  “The blood on his clothing…is impact spatter…That’s evidence that the spatter is on the person doing the hitting.” (55:24, James)

The Trial: Shaky Forensics, Shakier Alibi (60:31 - 70:00)

• Prosecution’s Case: Blood evidence, motivation (financial disputes), and Scott’s suspicious conduct.

• Defense’s Angle: Challenges the certainty of blood spatter analysis, points to absent evidence (e.g., a sliver of silver material, note with another man’s name/number, possible third-party DNA).

• Scott Testifies: He repeats his story, shedding tears and continuing to suggest his son’s guilt when pressed on the stand.

• Jury Verdict: Guilty of second-degree murder.

  “His story is dogshit.” (69:36, Jimmie)
  “He is found guilty of second degree murder…There’s women sobbing and running out of the room.” (70:00, James)

Aftermath – Appeals, DNA Mystery, and Parole Denial (73:02 - 80:35)

• Sentence: 15 years to life in protective custody.

• Legal Impact: Court upholds that the “emergency doctrine” justified questioning Scott without Miranda rights—a precedent-setting decision in NY (73:15).

• Post-Conviction Motions: New DNA evidence on the scene doesn’t match either party, but the absence of nail scrapings and some mysterious evidence items prevent exoneration.

• Parole Hearing: Scott maintains his innocence, claiming he’s a victim, but the board finds his lack of remorse and attempts to blame others disturbing. Parole is denied.

  “Your release at this time would trivialize the tragic loss of life you caused and…undermine the respect for law.” (80:35, Parole Board via James)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Police Inaction:

  “Somehow the cop didn’t put together that they called…Someone called about a guy in this outfit, crouching, being suspicious. He showed up, found the guy and said, must have been somebody else that was suspicious…Not the guy covered in blood.” (35:54, James)

• On Scott’s Defense:

  “I showed up and held him because he’s kind of covered in his blood. He can’t hide that…just I panicked and walked away because I thought, my son…That’s what he said.” (55:24, James)

• On Small Town Elections:

  “He is the Republican candidate for mayor of Corfu…He does not get shut out. He gets votes!” (52:19, James)

• On the Murder Scene:

  “His face was scraped in places and there were at least six large gashes on his head, including a large one across his forehead…He was struck at least seven or eight times.” (45:24, James)

• On Motive:

  “They think Scott might have been scamming him…I think is what they’re thinking.” (50:55, James)

Key Timestamps

• Pembroke/Corfu town intro & local color: 04:41–13:43
• Background on Scott Dahl and Joseph Bennequist: 14:17–22:45
• Timeline to murder night: 23:07–27:24
• Suspicious “camouflage walk,” arrest, and blood evidence: 29:41–36:18
• Joseph Bennequist found dead; shambolic forensics: 40:23–48:20
• Electoral farce: mayoral race from jail: 51:27–51:47
• Scott’s story; blaming his son: 53:05–55:24
• Trial play-by-play: 60:31–70:00
• Conviction, appeals, and parole denial: 73:02–80:51

Conclusion: The Murderer Mayor That (Thankfully) Wasn’t

The episode serves up everything Small Town Murder does best: a grisly killing where “everyone knew everyone,” a comically botched investigation, small-town idiosyncrasies (and elections!), and the deeply dark tragedy drawn into a comedic frame by James and Jimmy’s relentless riffing. Whether justice was done is debated—especially given late DNA questions—but “Murderer Mayor” is a portrait of a once-respected community figure whose lies and contradictions were too egregious for a jury (or podcast hosts) to buy.

For more crime, comedy, and small-town weirdness, visit ShutUpAndGiveMeMurder.com and join the Patreon for bonus content.