Irenia Cotner

Summary

Snapped: Women Who Murder

Episode: Irenia Cotner

Release Date: January 12, 2025
Host/Author: Oxygen

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Introduction

In this gripping episode of Snapped: Women Who Murder, Oxygen delves into the chilling case of Irenia Cotner, a woman whose obsession with the occult and manipulative control over her followers led to a brutal attack that shattered a small Midwestern community. Spanning over a series of events that culminate in betrayal, murder, and justice, this episode meticulously unpacks the intricate web woven by Cotner and her accomplices.

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The Violent Incident

August 23, 2005, 3:00 AM

In the quiet town of Claremont, Richland County, Illinois, Deputy Robert Blythe receives an urgent call reporting screams and signs of violence at a local home. Arriving at the scene, Deputy Blythe is confronted with chaos and bloodshed:

Deputy Blythe [04:11]: "When I got there, there was a pregnant woman that screamed at me that somebody had been shot and somebody had been stabbed and they were in the house."

Inside, Deputy Blythe finds three victims:

1. Joshua Bennett (20 years old): Fatally stabbed.
2. Jacqueline Bennett: Severely injured but alive.
3. An unidentified intruder: Wounded but escaping.

Witness Account: 23-year-old Jackie Jackson, a long-time acquaintance of Deputy Blythe, arrives at the scene, confessing to shooting the intruder in an attempt to save the victims:

Jackie Jackson [04:56]: "I've known him for a long time. He knew me of course, and he just yelled out my name and said, Robbie, I've shot him."

Despite Jackie’s intervention, the situation spirals out of control, resulting in Joshua’s death and Jacqueline’s severe injuries.

---

The Investigation Unfolds

Detectives begin piecing together the events leading up to the attack. Initial chaos reveals hints of a deeper, more sinister motive tied to mystical beliefs:

David Lindner [02:03]: "When I first heard that witchcraft was alleged in this crime, I was actually in a state of disbelief. They would have these candlelit ceremonies and they would talk about ridding themselves of hexes."

As the investigation progresses, it becomes evident that Irenia Cotner, the leader of a local covenant, manipulated her followers into committing murder under the guise of lifting a perceived curse.

---

Unraveling the Cult: Irenia Cotner's Manipulation

Irenia Cotner exerted significant influence over her group, convincing them that their lives were cursed and that only by committing murder could they break free:

Irenia Cotner [02:34]: "She tells the other people involved with this they have to kill a woman and her unborn child."

Her charismatic and controlling nature attracted individuals seeking belonging and purpose, making them susceptible to her dark influence.

Key Players:

• Oscar Eck (38 years old): Identified as one of the assailants, later revealed as a willing participant under Cotner’s influence.
• Jenny Wolf (20 years old) & Misty Gangloff (23 years old): Friends of Cotner who became entangled in the plot.

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The Manhunt and Confessions

Following the attack, Deputy Blythe and the investigative team launch a manhunt for the second assailant. Oscar Eck is found at Lawrence County Memorial Hospital, where under duress, he reveals the cult’s belief system:

Oscar Eck [12:40]: "He said the lady put a hex on it, so we had to kill her."

His confession underscores the bizarre motive rooted in witchcraft, baffling local law enforcement accustomed to more conventional crimes.

As investigators dig deeper, connections between Cotner and her followers emerge. Misty Gangloff uncovers that Cotner manipulated her friends by exploiting their fears and insecurities:

Irenia Cotner [30:18]: "Irenia Cotner just had a very controlling personality, and the group was somewhat passive."

---

Trial and Conviction

The trial of Irenia Cotner was a culmination of testimonies and evidence that exposed her as the ringleader behind the heinous attack. Prosecutors presented a clear motive rooted in jealousy and obsessive control rather than genuine occult beliefs.

David Lindner [43:05]: "Irenia was upset because Jackson had moved on to a new girlfriend and Irenia was plotting on how to kill this girl to get Jackie Jackson back in her life."

Witnesses, including Misty and Jenny, testified against Cotner, detailing how she orchestrated the murders under false pretenses of lifting a hex.

Despite Cotner’s initial pleas of innocence, the weight of the evidence proved overwhelming:

Jury Verdict [44:32]: "Guilty on three counts: conspiracy of first-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder, and home invasion."

Cotner's defiance continued even after her conviction, reflecting her unrepentant nature:

Irenia Cotner [44:32]: "She threw a tantrum in the courtroom and told the judge to kiss her ass."

---

Aftermath and Sentencing

Irenia Cotner was sentenced to 57 years in prison, effectively a life sentence:

Jacqueline Bennett [45:21]: "Irenia is a pure sociopath that should not ever be able to contact people. She should have been in a padded room years ago and maybe Josh would still be alive."

The other conspirators faced various sentences:

• Misty Gangloff: Accepted a plea deal for conspiracy of first-degree murder.
• Oscar Eck: Pleaded guilty and received a 20-year sentence.
• Jenny Wolf: Tried and found guilty, sentenced to 32 years.

The community of Mattoon, Illinois, remained scarred by the tragic loss of Joshua Bennett, whose heroic actions to save his mother ultimately cost him his life.

---

Conclusion

The Irenia Cotner episode of Snapped: Women Who Murder offers a profound exploration of how charismatic manipulation and extremist beliefs can lead to devastating consequences. Through meticulous investigation and compelling testimonies, the episode underscores the importance of recognizing and addressing the signs of destructive influence before it culminates in tragedy.

The enduring legacy of Joshua Bennett's sacrifice serves as a somber reminder of the fragility of life and the profound impact of true crime on a community.

---

Notable Quotes:

• Deputy Blythe [04:11]: "When I got there, there was a pregnant woman that screamed at me that somebody had been shot and somebody had been stabbed and they were in the house."
• David Lindner [02:03]: "When I first heard that witchcraft was alleged in this crime, I was actually in a state of disbelief."
• Irenia Cotner [02:34]: "She tells the other people involved with this they have to kill a woman and her unborn child."
• Jackie Jackson [04:56]: "I've known him for a long time. He knew me of course, and he just yelled out my name and said, Robbie, I've shot him."
• Oscar Eck [12:40]: "He said the lady put a hex on it, so we had to kill her."
• David Lindner [43:05]: "Irenia was upset because Jackson had moved on to a new girlfriend and Irenia was plotting on how to kill this girl to get Jackie Jackson back in her life."

These quotes not only highlight pivotal moments in the narrative but also provide direct insights from those involved, enriching the listener’s understanding of the complex dynamics at play.

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Note: This summary excludes advertisements, promotional content, and non-relevant sections to focus solely on the true crime narrative of Irenia Cotner and the tragic events surrounding Joshua and Jacqueline Bennett.

Transcript

[Narrator]

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[Host]

Bravo's the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills are all new. We are going to arrive in style. I feel so elegant. You can't wear anything that people have seen you in. That's the kiss of death.

[Deputy Blythe]

I'm living my best life.

[Jacqueline Bennett]

Beverly Hills is where marriages come to die. PK and I have agreed to separate.

[Host]

I'm done.

[Deputy Blythe]

I'm not doing this anymore.

[Jacqueline Bennett]

It's time to let go of the past.

[Deputy Blythe]

Is there more to the story?

[Host]

Absolutely.

[Jacqueline Bennett]

Step into the spotlight with the Real.

[Host]

Housewives of Beverly Hills every Tuesday at 8 on Bravo and streaming on Peacock. Violence descends upon a small Midwestern community.

[Deputy Blythe]

What she gathered was that someone had been shot. Someone had been stabbed.

[Detective]

You got so many people laying around that are crying out in pain.

[Host]

As detectives attempt to make sense of the bloodshed, they uncover a group devoted to their mystical beliefs.

[David Lindner]

When I first heard that witchcraft was alleged in this crime, I was actually in a state of disbelief. They would have these candlelit ceremonies and they would talk about ridding themselves of hexes.

[Host]

Investigators learned that the leader of this small town covenant has led her flock astray.

[David Lindner]

As the head figure of this cult, she had exercised her authority over the group.

[Irenia Cotner]

She tells the other people involved with this they have to kill a woman and her unborn child.

[Detective]

She was the ringleader. She told them what to do, when to do it, where to do it and why to do it.

[Host]

August 23, 2005 Deputy Robert Blythe with the Richland County Illinois Sheriff's Department is on patrol.

[Deputy Blythe]

Richland county is a county in southeastern Illinois. We have several small communities in the county. It's mainly farming. It's a very compact, friendly community. Everybody knows everybody.

[Host]

It's just after 3am on an otherwise quiet night when a call from dispatch comes across Deputy Blythe's radio.

[Deputy Blythe]

I was actually preparing to go home, end of shift. I got the call from my dispatcher. She said there was a lot of screaming on the line.

[Host]

The dispatcher was only able to discern a few alarming details.

[Deputy Blythe]

What she gathered was that someone had been shot, someone had been stabbed.

[Host]

Deputy Blythe rushes to the home in Claremont where he finds a chaotic scene.

[Deputy Blythe]

When I got there, there was a pregnant woman that screamed at me that somebody had been shot and somebody had been stabbed and they were in the house. I did not know the lady. At that point. My focus was, get in the house and see what's going on.

[Host]

Blythe approaches the home and once inside, the full scope of the violence comes sharply into focus.

[Deputy Blythe]

When I got in the door, the first thing I saw was a man that had been injured laying on the floor on his back, trying to scoot himself towards the door.

[Host]

Then Deputy Blythe spots a familiar face in the room. 23 year old Jackie Jackson.

[Deputy Blythe]

I've known him for a long time. He knew me of course, and he just yelled out my name and said, robbie, I've shot him.

[Host]

Before. He gets the full story from Jackie. Blythe immediately ensures paramedics are en route.

[Deputy Blythe]

My first impression from the amount of blood that I did not see how that person was going to survive.

[Host]

Nearby, there is another male victim bleeding profusely, but also still alive.

[Detective]

They observed someone laying on the kitchen floor that was bleeding from the chest and abdomen.

[Deputy Blythe]

I saw the knife that we assumed had been used in this laying on the floor beside the one victim.

[Host]

The horrific scene continues to unfold in the utility room where the deputy finds a third victim, a woman clinging to life.

[Detective]

She had numerous stab wounds to the stomach area. You walk in and you got so many people laying around crying out in pain.

[Host]

While waiting for EMTs to arrive, Blythe asks Jackie what happened. Jackie explains that the man he shot is an intruder and the two stabbing victims are mother and son.

[Irenia Cotner]

He is able to identify two of the victims, Jacqueline Bennett and Joshua Bennett.

[Host]

As for the intruder, all Jackie can say is that he was the one who stabbed the others.

[Deputy Blythe]

We didn't have a clue who he was or why he was there.

[Host]

Paramedics arrive. Both Jacqueline and the attacker are still alive. But by then 20 year old Joshua has lost too much blood.

[Detective]

Joshua had been stabbed one time, real deep, wounded the chest area which he succumbed to those wounds.

[Host]

As paramedics work to stabilize Jacqueline and the attacker, detectives arrive.

[Detective]

When I went to the scene, I was informed that the officers had secured the residence and made sure that the first aid was being applied to those that needed and the coroner had been contacted for the deceased. There's very few murders in this area where you walk in and you got so many people that are injured and trying to figure out who's the bad guys and who's the good guys because nothing could be taken for granted or it may cost someone else their life.

[Host]

Joshua Bennett was born in 1985 in the small town of Mattoon, Illinois. After his parents, Jacqueline and Jerry divorced in the early 90s, Josh spent most of his childhood with his father.

[Jacqueline Bennett]

After they got divorced, Josh wanted to stay with his dad where he had a little more stability. Josh and his mom grew farther apart as time went on. He lived with Jerry here in Mattoon and went to school. They were two single guys living together in an apartment and doing what two single guys wanted to.

[Host]

In 2004, after graduating from high school, Josh knew exactly what his next step would be.

[Jacqueline Bennett]

When Josh was in high school and joined the rotc, we already knew then what his future was gonna be. We had no doubt that when he graduated high school that he was going to be going into the service. I believe Josh just wanted to kind of get out of the Mattoon area and travel and just see, see the world. Everybody was rooting for him. You know, we were all proud of him.

[Host]

In July 2005, 20 year old Josh was stationed in Louisiana.

[Detective]

Joshua had just finished basic training of six weeks and he was getting ready to go overseas to Iraq.

[Host]

Just before Josh was deployed, he received devastating news. His father suddenly passed away.

[Jacqueline Bennett]

When Jerry passed away, Josh was in the field. There was no means of communication, so Josh didn't get to hear it from loved ones that his dad had passed away.

[Host]

By the next day, Josh was on leave and back in his hometown of Mattoon.

[Jacqueline Bennett]

Of course, it was difficult for Josh and he was devastated. Him and his father were really close.

[Host]

While he was back in town, Josh's friends encouraged the grieving soldier to reconnect with his mother, Jacqueline. But Josh was reluctant.

[Jacqueline Bennett]

To be honest, he didn't want to go.

[Host]

But his father's death gave Josh a new perspective and a change of heart.

[Jacqueline Bennett]

The loss of his father made him think maybe he needed to reconnect and try to work on that relationship with his mother. We had went to his mom's a couple times before for like, cookouts and stuff like that. That day in particular, I decided not to go. And I had talked to Josh on the phone when they were getting ready to eat dinner. And I was under the impression I would talk to him tomorrow. I never thought that that would be the last time that I spoke to him.

[Host]

Within hours of the call, Josh Bennett is lying dead on the floor of his mother's home from a single fatal stab wound. Jacqueline and an unidentified assailant are being loaded into separate ambulances for transport to a local hospital. Still at the scene, Jackie and Lindsey are physically unscathed, although it's clear Lindsay is in distress.

[Jacqueline Bennett]

Police tried to interview Lindsey, but she was hysterical at the time and in her condition, they decided it wasn't an issue to be pushed.

[Host]

Jackie, however, is eager to talk. He explains that on August 22, Josh came to stay with his mother, who lives with her boyfriend Lee. Jackie's father, Jackie and his pregnant girlfriend Lindsey were also living there at the time.

[Deputy Blythe]

Jackie was just beside himself, almost in a panic. He offered up a lot of information there in a short period of time.

[Host]

Jackie reveals that while he managed to shoot one of the attackers with a single load shotgun, the second man was stabbed in the leg during the fight, sending him fleeing.

[Jacqueline Bennett]

The intruder that got away had been wearing a mask, so Jackie wasn't able to describe what he looked like.

[Host]

With one suspect on the loose and another on his way to the hospital, investigators have a lot of ground to cover. Knowing that the severe gunshot wound to the abdomen could end the assailant's life, Sergeant Kelly Henby follows the ambulance, hoping to secure information before it's too late. Coming up, a bedside interrogation yields an alarming clue.

[Detective]

He said the lady put a hex on it, so we had to kill her.

[Host]

And the manhunt for the second attacker reveals a coven of dark magic.

[Irenia Cotner]

They shared a common interest in the occult. That's what drew them all together.

[Detective]

I worked so many murder cases, I never had anyone come up with witchcraft or hex.

[Host]

A brutal stabbing in Mattoon, Illinois, leaves 20 year old Joshua Bennett dead and his mother Jacqueline, clinging to life. A sheriff's deputy waits at a local ER with the hope of interviewing one of the intruders who stabbed them.

[Deputy Blythe]

The suspect that had been shot, nobody had any idea who he was.

[Host]

With a massive manhunt underway for a second suspect, investigators Back at the crime scene continue their interview with 23 year old witness Jackie Jackson. Jackie says that he and his pregnant girlfriend Lindsey Kaysinger were asleep when just, just after 3:00am he was awakened.

[Detective]

He was down in the basement and he heard a commotion and heard Joshua Bent calling for help.

[Host]

Jackie explains that he woke Lindsey and told her to run to the neighbor's house.

[Detective]

He loaded the 12 gauge shotgun and ran up the stairs. He saw two men in black clothing and ski masks stabbing Mr. Bennett in the chest and abdomen. He moved in and struck one individual with the butt of a shotgun and knocked him away. Mr. Bennett and the second man grabbed the barrel of the gun and as he pulled the gun toward him, Mr. Jackson pulled the trigger, hitting the suspect in the stomach.

[Host]

After Jackie dropped the gun in a panic, the second assailant attacked with a knife.

[Deputy Blythe]

The other person had made a move towards him and he had grabbed a knife and stabbed the suspect's right leg.

[Host]

Wounded, the second assailant ran off. As the chaos unfolded, Lindsey summoned help from a neighbor's home.

[Irenia Cotner]

Lindsay, fearing for her own life and for the life of her unborn child, manages somehow to get out of the house and she runs to an neighbor's house to ask for help. And that's when 911 is called.

[Host]

To investigators, the seemingly random and vicious attack is unlike anything they've seen before. Catching the second suspect becomes their top priority.

[Detective]

The individuals in charge of the manhunt notified the residents through the local radio station, you know, lock their doors, that there's an armed suspect in the area and K9s were brought in.

[Deputy Blythe]

I was concerned mostly about where's the other guy. We were just in search mode. We were trying to find that other suspect.

[Host]

As the manhunt continues at nearby Richland Memorial Hospital, with physician's permission, authorities speak with the injured suspect.

[Deputy Blythe]

Because of the severity of his injuries, we knew that he wasn't going anywhere. He was technically under arrest. So we had police there at the hospital guarding him.

[Detective]

I knew right then that if he didn't survive, these statements he would make to me would be very important. So I went over and removed the oxygen mask from his face.

[Jacqueline Bennett]

He was in pretty bad shape, he was pretty weak. But he was able to tell them that his name was David Lindner.

[Host]

As far as his accomplice goes, 29 year old David can only give a first name, Ricky. Sergeant Henby continues to press David for information.

[Detective]

I asked him why this happened, what's going on, and he said the lady put a hex on. So we had to kill her. And I said, who put a hex on you? He said, the lady did that lives there. She put a hex on us. That's very unusual. Since I worked so many death investigations and murder cases. I'd never had anyone come up with witchcraft or hex.

[David Lindner]

When I first heard that witchcraft was alleged in this crime, I was actually in a state of disbelief. The thought of it being involved in this community is shocking, to say the least.

[Host]

While the interview raises a lot of questions, it does yield important clues.

[Jacqueline Bennett]

Police knew they were looking for someone named Ricky, and they knew that they were looking for someone with a stab wound in their leg. They were able to put out an APB to be on the lookout at all local hospitals and the surrounding area.

[Host]

Eager to ask Jacqueline Bennett about David's bizarre hex claims, investigators find her in serious but stable condition. When they inform her of Josh's death, she is devastated. When she shares her version of the attack, it's all too clear. Her son Josh died trying to save her.

[Jacqueline Bennett]

She woke up and went into the kitchen. She was approached by two intruders who just started stabbing her.

[Detective]

Jacqueline Bennett received three substantial knife wounds to the abdomen.

[Irenia Cotner]

When Joshua hears his mother in distress, he charges up to come to her protection.

[Host]

Josh managed to come in between his mother and the attackers, but he paid the price when he was fatally stabbed once in the chest.

[Jacqueline Bennett]

He heard his mother need help, and he went, no questions. He was a hero.

[Host]

Detectives ask Jacqueline if she has ever met David Lindner.

[Deputy Blythe]

She didn't know who this person was either.

[Host]

She is just as puzzled when detectives ask her if she has any knowledge of a hex or witchcraft in connection to the case.

[Jacqueline Bennett]

Upon being given the news from the investigators about this hex, Jacqueline actually had no clue what they were talking about. She said that her boyfriend, Lee Jackson, was at work. He was there all night and that early morning when the attack occurred, so he was never looked at as a suspect.

[Host]

Just hours after the brutal scene unfolded at the rural Illinois home, investigators have few answers. They arrive back at the station to research possible leads. While there, they learn their APBs at area hospitals might pay off.

[Jacqueline Bennett]

Sometime after 8am that morning, police received a call from the Lawrence County Memorial Hospital letting them know that they have a patient with a stab wound. He wouldn't tell the hospital how he received the stab wound.

[Host]

The hospital says the man's name is Oscar Eck.

[David Lindner]

I was advised by my dispatch to go to the Lawrence County Hospital and that I was to interview him.

[Host]

Sergeant John Wagle arrives and is surprised to see a man limping out of the hospital. When asked for ID, the man complies. He is 38 year old Oscar R eck r for Richard.

[Detective]

He said everybody called him Ricky.

[Host]

Sergeant Wagle asks why he's there and Oscar explains he wanted some fresh air but plans to go back inside to get treatment for his leg injury.

[David Lindner]

He raised up his right pant leg and there was a fresh blood soaked wound with blood running down onto his sock. On that right leg it appeared to be a stab wound. I asked him how he had received that. He explained those injuries away as being drywall work related. I knew what Oscar was telling me was not the truth.

[Host]

Coming up, Detectives uncover the self appointed leader of a small town coven.

[Jacqueline Bennett]

She liked being looked up to by the people she surrounded herself with and.

[Host]

The investigation reveals a twisted plot driven by jealousy.

[Irenia Cotner]

They were going to have a baby. That may have very well been the moment when she snapped.

[Narrator]

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[Host]

Just hours after 20 year old soldier Joshua Bennett dies defending his mother, police believe they found one of the suspects, Oscar Eck. But they are soon joined by Oscar's friends.

[Jacqueline Bennett]

While Oscar was being questioned by police in the parking lot, two women walked up, Jenny Wolf and Irania Cotner.

[Host]

The two had apparently been waiting to pick up Oscar Eck and their behavior immediately gets the attention of investigators, especially.

[David Lindner]

Irene, as Irena was very, very nervous to me, she was visibly shaking, eyes downcast.

[Host]

Oscar reenters the hospital under police watch and receives treatment for his leg wound. Investigators ask 34 year old Irenia and 20 year old Jenny to come to the station for questioning.

[David Lindner]

They agree Irina Cotner asked no questions, why the police were there, what was going on, which to me a normal person would ask those questions.

[Host]

Neither Jenny nor Irenia claim to know anything about the murder. And although Irenia's behavior continues to raise red flags.

[Detective]

When I entered the interview room I saw a very disheveled young woman. She had her head down, very nervous and would not cooperate and she was just stonewalling.

[Host]

With nothing more than a hunch, investigators have no choice but to let Irenia and Jenny go with Oscar. Oscar still at the hospital, detectives run a background check. While no prior offenses come up, they obtain Oscar's last known address and pay a visit.

[Jacqueline Bennett]

A woman identified herself as Oscar X roommate Misty Gangloff. She allowed officers to come in.

[Host]

Investigators ask 23 year old Misty if she knows anything about the bloodshed that took place place earlier that day.

[Jacqueline Bennett]

She told them that she didn't know what was going on with Oscar or why they were there.

[Host]

But as Misty talks, investigators spot something unusual.

[Jacqueline Bennett]

They did notice that there was a book about witchcraft it actually took the investigators back to what David had told them at the hospital in regards to to a hex.

[David Lindner]

Upon seeing witchcraft literature and the residents, it would confirm suspicions I had that this was witchcraft related.

[Host]

Police ask Misty to come to the station. Once there, she readily admits that she knows both Jenny and Irenia.

[Jacqueline Bennett]

Misty had been friends with Irene and Jenny for at least four years.

[Detective]

They were employed by the same retail outlet store.

[Host]

The three had become fast friends after discovering they had a lot in common, including a shared fascination with the occult.

[Jacqueline Bennett]

Their involvement or interest in witchcraft at the beginning was pretty light. Some good luck charms, some, you know, cleansing their house with sage.

[David Lindner]

They would have these candlelit ceremonies, and they would talk about ridding themselves of hexes.

[Host]

Misty says Irenia made herself the leader of their little coven.

[Jacqueline Bennett]

Irenia was just kind of known for getting involved with people that were younger than her. It seemed like she went for people that could be easily manipulated.

[Host]

Irenia was particularly close to Jenny wolf, a woman 14 years younger than her.

[Irenia Cotner]

Irenia Cotner unofficially adopted Jenny Wolf to remove her from a bad home situation, and the two of them lived together.

[Detective]

Jenny looked up to her as a.

[David Lindner]

Mother figure and would have followed her off a cliff. She was Jenny's hero.

[Host]

But after a couple of years of innocent seances, Misty says their ceremonies took on a more ominous tone.

[Jacqueline Bennett]

Misty said sometime in spring of 2005, Irenia first started just constantly complaining about a hex that had been put on her.

[Irenia Cotner]

Part of the reason she began to believe Irenia when she said that a hex had been placed on them was the fact that a number of Irenia's dogs began to die, as if someone was poisoning them.

[Host]

Misty recalls how other dark omens started to befall Irenia's coven.

[Irenia Cotner]

Another way that Irenia Cotner convinces Misty that hex has been placed on her is by drawing a connection between the hex and the bouts of depression and migraine headaches that Misty has suffered from.

[Host]

While there was no proof the ailments were caused by a hex, Irenia was very convincing.

[David Lindner]

Irenia Cotner just had a very controlling personality, and the group was somewhat passive.

[Host]

Irenia told Misty that the hex had been placed on them by a woman Irenia claimed was a witch, Lindsay Kaysinger, who police know as the pregnant woman from the crime scene. Misty shares another detail that connects Lindsay and Irenia. Jackie Jackson, the father of Lindsay's unborn child.

[Jacqueline Bennett]

In 2000, Irinia met Jackie Jackson, and they fell head over heels and were in a passionate relationship for the next four years until it ended in November 2004. Irenia was understandably heartbroken and devastated when Irenia met Jackie Jackson. She was actually 10 years his senior, so he was in his early 20s and she was in her early 30s.

[Host]

Misty says that when Jackie broke up with Irania to be with a younger woman, Irenia couldn't handle it.

[Irenia Cotner]

Irinia knew that Jackie was with Lindsay and they were going to have a baby. That may have very well been the moment when she snapped.

[Host]

Irenia also brought Misty's roommate Oscar into the group. She soon convinced him that Lindsay had also hexed him.

[David Lindner]

Irenia Cotner, as the head figure of this cult had exercised her authority over the group and she was basically the leader of the group.

[Irenia Cotner]

They all shared a common interest in the occult. That's what drew them all together. She was an influential woman in the respect that she could convince all these people that Lindsay Kaysinger had placed a hex on them.

[Host]

Misty claims Irenia told them there was only one solution to free the coven of Lindsay's dark influence.

[Irenia Cotner]

Irenia Cotner tells the other people involved with this that they have to kill Lindsay and her unborn child.

[Host]

From that point on, Misty says she had nothing to do with Oscar, Jenny or Irenia. While Misty's story answers many of investigators questions, it does leave one unanswered.

[Jacqueline Bennett]

If all of this was about Irania's beef with Lindsay, then why would Lindsay be the one to walk away unharmed in this case? And why would Jacqueline and Joshua be the victims in this attack?

[Host]

Coming up, Oscar Eck comes clean.

[Irenia Cotner]

She was looking for people that she could rely upon. He became a gun for hire and.

[Host]

Irenia's plan goes off the rails.

[Irenia Cotner]

They've reached a point where everything has gone so wrong they don't quite know what to do.

[Host]

On August 23, 2005 Illinois investigators interrogate 38 year old Oscar Ricky, a one of two suspected killers in the murder of 20 year old soldier Joshua Bennett.

[David Lindner]

Oscar is very willing to talk and answer any questions asked of him.

[Host]

Oscar admits that as crazy as it sounds, Irania also made him believe Lindsay had hexed him.

[Jacqueline Bennett]

He said she was able to convince them that not only they were in danger by the hex but but their loved ones, their family and friends were in danger. And the only way to break the hex would be to kill Lindsay and her unborn baby.

[Host]

It seems Irenia had a strange hold over the younger lost souls. She surrounded herself with the people involved in this.

[Deputy Blythe]

They needed a place to belong. I believe that they were all followers. And Irenia was the person that was the leader. And she set down the rules and this is what we do. And she made all the decisions.

[Host]

When Misty bowed out, Oscar says he agreed to work with Irania and Jenny to kill Lindsay.

[Jacqueline Bennett]

They go to Lindsay's house with a gun and a knife, but Jenny can't get even to the front door because she's too scared.

[Host]

Irenia decided they needed to bring in another person for backup. So Oscar offered to reach out to an associate from the occult community named David Lindner.

[Irenia Cotner]

David had just newly arrived in Olney, Illinois, and he proclaims him himself to be a warlock. Irena Cotner decides to involve Kim in this murder plot. She was looking for people that she could rely upon to commit the crime that she wanted to commit. David became a gun for hire.

[Host]

On the night of August 22, Irenia conferred with David and Oscar.

[Jacqueline Bennett]

Oscar and David went to Irenia's house and they the three of them had one final seance. They would ask yes or no questions, and she told them that she could interpret the flickering of the flame as a yes or no answer.

[Host]

After a few minutes, Irenia announced that the message was clear.

[Jacqueline Bennett]

During the seance, the candle told Irenia that tonight was the night. That was the night that they had to go and kill Lindsay.

[Host]

According to Oscar, Irenia presented them with a carefully laid out plan. They were to stab Lindsay and her unborn child in a ritual sacrifice, and the plan had to be carried out within a finite window of time.

[Jacqueline Bennett]

Irenia also told them that if they didn't complete the task by the time that candle burnt out, that their entire family would be at jeopardy and die.

[Host]

While Irenia herself would not go with them, she assured them they wouldn't be alone.

[Jacqueline Bennett]

Irena told them that they would be accompanied by five sub demons to help protect them and make sure that nothing went wrong with the plan. It gave David and Oscar the courage that they needed.

[Host]

Oscar tells investigators that Irenia's hold on them was so strong, he and David quickly jumped into action.

[Detective]

This was a tight group. They were just, you know, amateurs. But they were dangerous.

[Host]

Just after 3am they arrived at the home where Lindsay was living with Irenia's ex, Jackie Jackson.

[Deputy Blythe]

We were told later that they actually crawled in through a kitchen window. It's not unusual for windows and doors to be unlocked, especially in this small community.

[Host]

Oscar tells them that the plan went awry almost immediately.

[David Lindner]

As I stood in the hallway, Jacqueline Bennett woke up, came down the hall and encountered Oscar A and David Linder.

[Detective]

They stabbed Jacqueline, thinking she was Lindsey because it was dark in there.

[Host]

Moments later, 20 year old Josh appeared.

[David Lindner]

Joshua Bennett came to his mother's aid and he was subsequently stabbed and killed.

[Host]

The plan continued to go sideways when Jackie came upstairs, leaving David and Oscar wounded.

[David Lindner]

Oscar was stabbed and then he subsequently escaped the house and went back to Irena's house.

[Irenia Cotner]

At the point that they decide to take Oscar to the hospital, they've really reached a point where everything has gone so wrong with this crime that now they don't quite know what to do.

[Host]

Following his stunning confession, Oscar is placed under arrest and charged with first degree murder.

[Jacqueline Bennett]

Josh and his mother weren't the target. They had nothing to do with it. They were innocent bystanders.

[Host]

Later that same day, investigators secure warrants to bring Jenny and Irenia back in for questioning. It's clear that Jenny is struggling with her current predicament.

[Deputy Blythe]

Jenny Wolf never gave me any indication that there was an evil bone in her body. She was very polite, she was chatty.

[Host]

Jenny confirms Oscar and Misty's accounts and admits that while none of them besides Irenia knew Lindsay, Irenia was so persuasive, she basically brainwashed them.

[Jacqueline Bennett]

Irenia was able to convince them that all of the bad things that happened to them in their life were not their fault. They were this one person's fault. And if they could just get rid of this one person, all of their problems would go away.

[Host]

Eager to hear Irenia's story, investigators confront her in the next interrogation room.

[Irenia Cotner]

Even at the point that the authorities have sufficient evidence to suspect Irenia Cotner is the mastermind of this crime, she continues to proclaim her innocence.

[Detective]

That's when I went at it real hard saying that we were very tired. Everybody knows that you were involved. Other people are cooperating and I was being very firm with her.

[Host]

Irenia finally breaks.

[Detective]

Within 10:12 minutes, she had confessed. She actually wanted to kill the young lady that was pregnant. The interviews were enough to contact the state's attorney and showing that they were a danger to the community. We placed the three women under arrest after the state's attorney okayed it and they were put in custody.

[Host]

Coming up, as her once loyal followers turn on her, Irenia's true colors are fully exposed.

[David Lindner]

She jazzed up this whole hex devil worship thing to try to get the rest of these people involved. She was jealous. Irenia threw a tantrum in the courtroom and told the judge to kiss her ass.

[Host]

Prosecutors in Richland County, Illinois are Preparing to hold 34 year old Irenia Cotner responsible. For masterminding the bloody attack that left 20 year old soldier Josh Bennett dead and his mother Jacqueline severely wounded.

[Deputy Blythe]

Jacqueline survived her injuries and was released from the hospital two weeks after the incident.

[Host]

In February 2006, over six months after the murder, David Lindner, Irenia's co conspirator, dies from the gunshot wound he received during the attack.

[Deputy Blythe]

He never left the hospital. He went into a coma and succumbed to his injuries.

[Host]

Irenia's trial begins in October of 2006. In their opening statements, prosecutors allege Irenia's true desire to kill Lindsay had nothing to do with a hex.

[David Lindner]

Irenia was upset because Jackson had moved on to a new girlfriend and Irenia was plotting on how to kill this girl to get Jackie Jackson back in her life. She jazzed up this whole hex devil worship thing to try to get the rest of these people involved. She was jealous.

[Host]

After finally seeing the writing on the wall. Misty, Jenny and Oscar all take the stand against Irenia.

[Detective]

When it came time for them to cooperate, they did and even testified against her in court that she was the ringleader. She was a person responsible for this entire event. No one acted on their own. She told them what to do, when to do it, where to do it and why to do it.

[Irenia Cotner]

Jenny Wolf and Misty Gangloff and Oscar Eck and David Linder wanted to believe that they mattered. And this little community they formed in their worship of the occult gave them that sense of belonging.

[Host]

On October 25, 2006, the jury announces their decision.

[David Lindner]

The jury returns a guilty verdict against Irena Cotner on three counts. Conspiracy of first degree murder, first degree attempted murder and home invasion. After the guilty verdict was rendered, Irenia Cotner threw a tantrum in the courtroom and told the judge to kiss her ass.

[Detective]

That's what she said. Her last words to the judge as she left the courtroom, no remorse.

[Host]

At her sentencing hearing, Irenia receives 57 years in prison, what is essentially a life sentence.

[Jacqueline Bennett]

He told her that with her age and adding those 50 years, she would.

[Host]

Probably never get out.

[Jacqueline Bennett]

She would probably die in prison. And I was kind of happy about that because she shouldn't be out. Irenia is a pure sociopath that should not ever be able to contact people. She should have been in a padded room years ago and maybe Josh would still be alive.

[David Lindner]

In 2006, Misty Gangloff accepted a plea deal for conspiracy of first degree murder.

[Host]

In 2007, Oscar Eck pleads guilty to first degree murder and receives a 20 year sentence. Jenny takes a gamble and goes to trial. In 2008, she is found guilty of murder and sentenced to 32 years.

[Detective]

My personal opinion is on some of the sentencings, they were a little bit light because people lost their life here. Any one of those individuals could have stopped this at any time, but nobody stepped forward.

[Host]

As for those who loved Josh Bennett, his loss is a wound that endures.

[Jacqueline Bennett]

God tells me I have to forgive him and I have forgiven them for what they did. But I'll never forget they lost that.

[Host]

They put in my heart.

[Jacqueline Bennett]

I'll never forget.

[Narrator]

Oscar is scheduled for release in 2025. He will be 58. Jenny is scheduled for release in 2033. She will be 48. Misty was released from prison in 2013 after serving seven years. Irenia will be eligible for release in 2055 at the age of 85.

[Host]

They say Hollywood is where dreams are made, a seductive city where many flock to get rich, be adored and capture America's heart. But when the spotlight turns off, fame, fortune and lives can disappear in an instant. When TV producer Roy Raiden was found dead in a Canyon near LA in 1983, there were many questions surrounding his death. The last person seen with him was Lainey Jacobs, a seductive cocaine dealer who desperately wanted to be part of the Hollywood elite. Together, they were trying to break into the movie industry. But things took a dark turn when a million dollars worth of cocaine and cash went missing. From Wondery comes a new season of the hit show Hollywood and Crime the Cotton Club Murder. Follow Hollywood in Crime the Cotton Club Murder on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge all episodes of the Cotton Club Murder early and ad free right now by joining Wondery plus.