LA Barber Arrested in Burning Death of Homeless Man John McGraham

by Tina Kells | January 23, 2009 at 09:58 am

1116 views | 18 Recommendations | 15 comments

Benjamin Martin, 30, a Los Angeles barber, has been arrested in the horrific burning death of homeless man John McGraham, 55.

On October 9, 2008 Martin allegedly doused McGraham with a flammable liquid and set him on fire. Martin was linked to the crime by eyewitness testimony and DNA evidence. His motive for the killing has been offered as nothing more than a personal dislike of the homeless man and a shocking lack of regard for the life of someone he viewed as a "vagrant."

The brutal murder of John McGraham shocked residents in the area who knew the homeless man as a harmless fixture in their community.

McGraham was described as friendly, quiet and kind. Several shopkeepers in the area regularly fed him and socialized with him as a result; they were shocked by his murder. McGraham was said to have loved Dr. Pepper and to have cherished his prize possession, a small radio. The shopkeepers report that while McGraham was homeless he was not lonely; his family visited with him regularly.

John McGraham will be missed by loved ones, friends and many people in the community in which he lived.

McGraham's untimely and brutal death was but one of several killings of homeless people to plague the Los Angeles area in 2008. Police are crediting the popular crime watch TV series America's Most Wanted with helping to solidify the case against Martin.

Benjamin Martin, 30, was linked to the crime through witness identifications and DNA evidence collected at the scene, police said. His motive apparently was a "straight-up personal dislike and a little bit of crazy," Deputy Chief Charlie Beck said.

Martin was arrested in Rancho Mirage, about 120 miles east of Los Angeles. He is accused of killing 55-year-old John McGraham on Oct. 9 as the homeless man sat on a Los Angeles street corner.

Witnesses told police they saw a man chase McGraham, throw a liquid at him and flee. McGraham suffered burns on over 90 percent of his body and died at a hospital.

Police said McGraham's story aired on FOX's "America's Most Wanted," helping to generate "numerous tips and leads" and leading to Martin's arrest.

There was no phone listing for Martin in Rancho Mirage. Office Jason Lee, a Los Angeles police spokesman, said he did not know if Martin had an attorney.

Witnesses described McGraham as a fixture on the Los Angeles block who befriended neighbors and received regular visits from his family. The shopkeepers and residents who fed him and gave him spare change and clothing said he was a quiet, harmless man who liked to drink Dr Pepper and listen to a small portable radio.

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Rhonda J Mangus

at 13:28 on January 23rd, 2009

Thanks for this story, Tina.

Tina Kells

at 14:49 on January 23rd, 2009

I think it is so important for people to remember that homeless people are PEOPLE and that they have family and friends and people who care for them. It is too easy to get caught up in the urban mythology and lose sight of the reality of homelessness which is more complex than social politics would have us believe.

That is why I put John McGraham's name in the headline. He deserves at least that much as we recall his horrific and undeserved death and report on the arrest of his murderer.

158

at 15:15 on January 23rd, 2009

Sad. It shows our society still has a lot of growing up to do.

Ajlouny

at 14:24 on January 24th, 2009

Is it that our society has to grow up or is it the reality that there are some people that have no remorse or afterthought of the consequences of their actions. It's a sick person that can take the life of an innocent person especially as callous as the one in this story. Who gave him the right to take someone's life just because of their possible mental illness or the fact that they are poor.

Glenn Karlsen

at 00:31 on January 24th, 2009

Glenn Karlsen has contributed a photo to this story.

duo

at 17:24 on January 24th, 2009

Thank you for the good news, Tina! I will update my two stories on Mr. McGraham and post a link to your story at Care2. Many people across the nation were very upset for Mr. McGraham and his family, and it is such a relief that his murderer was brought to justice. I hope they charge him with a hate crime, as this surely was.

Congratulations to America's Most Wanted and law enforcement who kept on the trail of McGraham's murderer.

Here are the articles I wrote about Mr. McGraham and other abused/murdered mental patients:

More Hate Crimes - Cruelty to Mentally Disabled Persons
http://my.nowpublic.com/health/more-hate-crimes-cruelty-mentally-disabled-persons

Five More Homeless Murdered in California Sunday - Several Mental Patients
http://my.nowpublic.com/health/five-more-homeless-murdered-california-sunday-several-mental-patients

Mary Neal
http://wrongfuldeathoflarryneal.com

Cathy Crompton (not verified)

at 17:32 on January 24th, 2009

John was my friend....

The world has been a better place for the last 24 hours. I knew John would get him...

Fly away John, Fly away

Tina Kells

at 19:29 on January 25th, 2009

I am so sorry for your loss. I hope John McGraham gets the justice he deserves.

CJaye

at 18:28 on January 24th, 2009

Thank GOD they got that scum bag

Montoya (not verified)

at 03:00 on January 25th, 2009

That poor man was a victim. He was a victim of his circumstances, whether it was an illness or a poorness, then to have someone heartless take his life. It's horrible and heartless.

duo

at 12:10 on January 25th, 2009

Tina, we did it! Your story made Care2's Front Page. People are pleased to know that Mr. McGraham's murderer is caught. See the Golden Note here:

Congratulations! The Care2 Community has promoted your submission to
the Care2 News Network Front Page.

News: LA Barber Arrested in Burning Death of Homeless Mentally Ill Man, John McGraham

In recognition for this outstanding achievement, you've
also been awarded a "Golden Note".

Thank you for contributing to the Care2 Community!

Thanks for all the effort law enforcement put into making this arrest. Mentally ill people like Larry Neal, my brother who was secretly arrested until death in Memphis Shelby County Jail, and Mr. McGraham, do count to some people.

Tina Kells

at 19:28 on January 25th, 2009

Wow! Thank you Mary, I am truly humbled and honored.

I pray the justice system punishes the murderer of John McGraham to the full extent of the law. A society is only as great as the treatment it allows of its weakest citizens... the homeless are invisible or misunderstood at best, and loathed and misjudged at worst. This was a hate crime without a single doubt and it deserves the harshest punishment possible under the law.

duo

at 18:39 on January 26th, 2009

Tina, you say right, "A society is only as great as the treatment it allows of its weakest citizens... "

Don't think for a moment that elected officials and law enforcement don't notice the outpouring of outrage that helped to make solving Mr. McGraham's murder a priority.

It took lots of police work and expensive DNA testing to bring Martin to justice. Plus, I believe the article says that a $50,000 reward was offered.

Maybe my family should raise a reward to PAY for justice regarding the SECRET arrest and WRONGFUL DEATH of Larry Neal, who died in government custody in Shelby County Jail in Memphis, Tennessee.

I have sadly found out that it may be just as someone put on our petition requesting the USDOJ to please DO ITS JOB and investigate the death of a handicapped man who died in a jail that was already under its overview for abuses. The petitioner wrote: NO MONEY, NO JUSTICE.

I think that is extremely sad for a nation that goes around jumping on other nations for human rights abuses, yet allow one of its weakest citizens, a lifelong mental patient with heart trouble, be Secretly arrested in a GOVERNMENT FACILITY until a MYSTERIOUS DEATH and returned to his family a CORPSE, yet give NO ACCOUNTABILITY after FIVE YEARS. What's worse, his family suffers PERSECUTION for even asking what happened to him. Such hypocrisy is absolutely astounding to me.

See the petitioners' comments on our Petition for Dog Justice here (you can see the comments by clicking on SIGNATURES, and there is no requirement to sign the petition yourself to see what others say).
http://www.petitiononline.com/Neal/petition.html

I am very pleased for Mr. McGraham's family. At least they know now what happened to him and who was allegedly responsible. May he rest in peace. Thank God for bringing that family closer to the closure they need.

Mary Neal
http://wrongfuldeathoflarryneal.com