South Dakota absconder charged with intentional homicide in Wisconsin woman’s death – Sioux Falls Live

Report on Homicide Case in Racine, Wisconsin and Linkages to Sustainable Development Goals

Incident Summary

• Date and Time: Approximately 8:30 a.m., Monday, November 10.
• Location: A residence in the 1700 block of Holmes Avenue, Racine, Wisconsin.
• Parties Involved: Benjamin Chipps, 46, of Wanblee, South Dakota (suspect), and an adult female (victim).
• Outcome: The female victim was discovered unresponsive with significant physical trauma. She was later pronounced deceased at a local hospital. This event directly contravenes the fundamental aims of ensuring human security and well-being as outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals.

Investigation and Findings

• Initial Response: Law enforcement responded to a call regarding an unresponsive female. Upon arrival, officers were directed upstairs by Mr. Chipps to the victim, who was found on the bathroom floor.
• Victim’s Condition: The victim presented with significant facial bruising, cuts, swelling, and multiple freshly missing teeth.
• Witness Statements: A roommate reported that the suspect and victim were “heavy drinkers” and might have used methamphetamine, highlighting challenges related to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being). The witness also overheard loud arguing and stomping the evening prior to the incident.
• Suspect’s Account: Mr. Chipps provided conflicting explanations for the victim’s injuries, attributing them first to a bar fight and later to a fall inside the home.
• Suspect’s Injuries: Authorities noted that Mr. Chipps had sustained multiple cuts and fresh scratches on his face, neck, and hands, which were assessed as potential defensive wounds.

Legal Proceedings and Suspect’s History

• Charges: Mr. Chipps has been charged with one count of first-degree intentional homicide.
• Custody Status: He is currently held in the Racine County Jail on a $750,000 bond, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for November 19.
• Criminal Record: The suspect is a federal parole absconder. His history includes a 2001 conviction for aggravated sexual abuse and multiple subsequent charges for failure to register as a sex offender. This history points to systemic challenges in achieving SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

Analysis in the Context of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • This homicide is a direct failure to meet Target 16.1, which aims to “significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.”
   • The suspect’s status as a parole absconder with a history of serious offenses indicates challenges within the justice system’s ability to provide effective oversight and prevent recidivism, impacting the goal of building strong institutions.
   • The formal charges and judicial process represent the institutional response required to ensure accountability and access to justice for all.

2. SDG 5: Gender Equality

   • The violent death of a woman, particularly in a domestic context suggested by witness reports, is a severe violation of Target 5.2: “Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres.”
   • The suspect’s prior conviction for aggravated sexual abuse further emphasizes the persistent issue of gender-based violence, a critical barrier to achieving gender equality.

3. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Reports of substance abuse (“heavy drinkers” and possible methamphetamine use) directly relate to Target 3.5: “Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol.”
   • The incident underscores how violence and substance abuse are interconnected public health crises that threaten the well-being of individuals and communities.

Relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • The article connects to this goal by highlighting issues of substance abuse. A roommate reported that the suspect and the victim were “heavy drinkers” and might use methamphetamine, which are harmful behaviors that SDG 3 aims to address.

2. SDG 5: Gender Equality

   • This goal is relevant as the article details a case of extreme violence against a woman, resulting in her death. The victim, an adult female, suffered significant physical injuries, which points directly to the goal of eliminating all forms of violence against women. The suspect’s prior conviction for “aggravated sexual abuse” further reinforces the connection to gender-based violence.

3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • The article is fundamentally about a breakdown of peace and the subsequent response of justice institutions. It describes a homicide, a severe form of violence that this goal seeks to reduce. Furthermore, it details the actions of the justice system, including the police investigation, the arrest of the suspect, the filing of charges (“one count of first-degree intentional homicide”), and the judicial process (holding the suspect in jail on bond and scheduling a preliminary hearing).

Specific SDG Targets

1. Target 3.5: Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol.

   • This target is identifiable through the roommate’s statement that the suspect and victim were “heavy drinkers” and may have used methamphetamine. This suggests that substance abuse was a factor in the environment where the violence occurred.

2. Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres.

   • The core of the article—the intentional killing of a woman who had “significant facial bruising,” was “missing multiple teeth,” and had other injuries—is a direct example of the violence this target aims to eliminate. The fact that the violence likely occurred in a private home, as suggested by the neighbor hearing arguing and stomping, aligns with the target’s focus on both public and private spheres.

3. Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.

   • The article reports on a homicide, where a woman was intentionally killed. This directly relates to reducing violence-related death rates. The charge of “first-degree intentional homicide” explicitly categorizes the event as a violent death that this target addresses.

4. Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.

   • The article demonstrates the “rule of law” in action. Police were called to the scene, conducted an investigation, and made an arrest. The suspect was charged with a felony, is being held in jail on a significant bond, and is scheduled for a court hearing. These are all components of a functioning justice system as promoted by this target.

Mentioned or Implied Indicators

1. Implied Indicator for Target 3.5: Prevalence of harmful use of alcohol and drug use.

   • The article does not provide statistics but implies the presence of this issue through the roommate’s report of the couple being “heavy drinkers” and possible methamphetamine users. This qualitative information points to the existence of harmful substance use.

2. Implied Indicator for Target 5.2: Proportion of women subjected to physical or sexual violence.

   • The detailed description of the female victim’s fatal injuries (“significant facial bruising,” “missing multiple teeth”) serves as a case study for this indicator. The suspect’s past conviction for “aggravated sexual abuse” also points to the prevalence of sexual violence. This specific homicide would be a data point in measuring violence against women.

3. Implied Indicator for Target 16.1: Number of victims of intentional homicide (Indicator 16.1.1).

   • The article is a direct report of one such victim. The police investigation and the specific charge of “first-degree intentional homicide” confirm that this death would be officially counted under this indicator, contributing to national and local crime statistics.

4. Implied Indicator for Target 16.3: Proportion of unsentenced detainees (related to Indicator 16.3.2).

   • The article states that the suspect is “currently being held in the Racine County Jail” and is “expected to appear in a Racine County courtroom… for a preliminary hearing.” This describes the status of an unsentenced detainee within the justice system, which is a key measure of judicial process and efficiency.

Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: siouxfallslive.com