Gerald Bennett, a man awaiting trial for the kidnapping and murder of 16-year-old Mujey Dumbuya, has died from medical complications, according to U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. Bennett, 63 years old and from Detroit, was admitted to the hospital on November 7 for cancer treatment. His health declined, and he was placed on life support until he passed away on Monday.

The case involves the abduction and murder of Dumbuya, who had accused Quinn James, a maintenance worker at her school, of sexually assaulting her when she was 15. Dumbuya was scheduled to testify against James in April 2018. However, she was abducted from a bus stop in January 2018, and her partially clothed body was later discovered in the woods in Kalamazoo, about 50 miles southeast of her home in Grand Rapids. The cause of death was determined to be strangulation.

Investigations into the case revealed that James had hired Bennett to assist him in the kidnapping and murder of Dumbuya. Both men were charged with murder in state court, and James was convicted and sentenced to life in prison in April 2019. However, Bennett was ruled incompetent to stand trial, and the charges against him were dismissed in March 2022.

The case was then referred to the FBI and federal prosecutors, resulting in a federal grand jury indictment against Bennett in August 2022. A forensic psychologist concluded that Bennett had faked incompetency, and a judge determined that he was competent to stand trial. Jury selection for his trial was scheduled to begin in February 2024. Federal authorities had charged Bennett with conspiracy to commit murder for hire resulting in death, kidnapping resulting in death, kidnapping of a minor victim, and solicitation to commit a crime of violence.

Unfortunately, with Bennett's passing, the case against him is now dismissed. U.S. Attorney Mark Totten expressed regret that the evidence against Bennett will never be presented in court. He acknowledged that while they can't bring Mujey back, securing a conviction is an important step in seeking justice for her. The tragic nature of the case and the heinous allegations involved have deeply impacted the community, leaving a lasting mark on the memory of Mujey Dumbuya.