My good friend Benji committed suicide last Sunday (October 9th, 2005). His funeral was held on Thursday, October 13th in Ceder City, Utah. He is now buried in Parowan Cemetery. I wasn’t able to attend any of the services.
The word on the street is that he shot himself during a face to face conversation with his girlfriend. The rumor is, the two were talking and he told her what he was going to do. As he pulled out the gun, she reached for the phone and Boom!
Benji was a great guy with a serious lifelong problem. He started using drugs at his father’s behest at the ripe young age of 10. The legend is that when Benji couldn’t go to school, his dad would put down lines in front of him. To tell you the truth, having got to know Benji during his sober months, I know that whatever his parents (hardcore users) did, was no excuse for his wrong choices, and he knew it.
He had been seeking help for a while, which led to his soberness when I met him. He had turned himself into the farce-icle known as “drug court” here in Satan, George, Utah. While I knew him, he was happy and full of, and high on, life. He sought the gospel and recognized it’s truth and importance. We had some some great times hanging out. He was the type of guy that everyone instantly likes, always befriending and helping others. A craze with the girls.
For those of you who saw me on Television last year (mentioned earlier in this blog) it was Benji who got the most air time. It was Benji who was my friend who tricked me into going to that singles ward. What a great guy. I sure mis him.
He was scared to death to graduate drug court. He feared he would fall back to his old ways. That was exactly what he did. I believe he killed himself to end the addiction. I know he’s not happy where he is at now, but I think it is better for him. Now he can learn the gospel as he always wanted. May God have mercy on him for the goodness we all know was within him.
