New details are emerging on the man who police said admitted to killing his girlfriend, then burying her in the backyard of an 8th Ward home last week.
24-year-old Benjamin Camp’s bond has been set at $1,250,000. On Monday, the family of victim Essence Peters spoke exclusively with Shay O’Connor, hoping it might save someone who might be going through domestic violence.
Family members told O’Connor they are hurting. They said 24-year-old Peters was a good person who absolutely loved family, and that her future was bright.
Na’ Keshia Ruiz, the mother of Essence Peters, said, “I FaceTimed her around 10:30 in the morning. We talked. I told her I was going to come get her to braid her hair.”
Ruiz recounted the last time she spoke with her daughter, which was last Wednesday. They spoke about meeting up.
“I was off this weekend. We were excited about it,” said the mom of two.
Nothing could prepare her for what would happen next.
“When Thursday came, I called her, but she wasn’t answering. Later on Thursday, she texted me on Facebook.”
But it was not really her. Ruiz said it was her daughter’s boyfriend, Camp.
Police said he shot Essence multiple times following an argument Thursday morning.
Ruiz said, “I’m hurting for my baby. He didn’t have to do this. I could have came and picked her up. I live like 10 mins away.”
NOPD officers said Saturday Camp confessed to killing Essence and then burying her body in the backyard of a home in the 2000 block of Marigny Street.
“I didn’t know until I was on the scene for about 2 hours that she had been buried in the backyard. I had to see it,” Ruiz said.
Ruiz said while her daughter never told her Camp was violent, a few weeks ago, there was an argument. Essence moved out of the home for a couple of days, but the couple patched things up. She went back.
Now, Ruiz said she wants to warn others about not ignoring red flags.
“When you see that first sign, just go. Just get out. The first chance you have, talk to your family. Let your family know what’s going on. Don’t hide anything,” said Ruiz.
Advocates said during the summer months, there appears to be an uptick in domestic violence cases. Because it’s hot, families are home more together, and that could be financially straining.
Leaders at the New Orleans Family Justice Center said they have been seeing more victims in need of help recently.
Advocates want you to not ignore red flags; for instance, if a person is trying to distance you, appears possessive or threatens to kill you or harm others, advocates said this could escalate quickly.
Misty Frye with the New Orleans Family Justice Center said, “Do they own weapons? Do they try to isolate you from family? Those are things we need to take heed of. As a community, as a family. And say something is not right.”
There is help, and there are resources for victims. Leaders are encouraging victims to reach out to the 24-hour crisis line at the New Orleans Family Justice Center. The number is 504-866-9554.
To help Essence’s family with burial costs, please click the following link:
Fundraiser by Nakeshia Ruiz: Honoring Essence Peters’ Memory
READ MORE:‘She was amazing’: Mother of NOLA woman shot and buried in backyard by boyfriend speaks
