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Florence Murder Suspects Arraigned on New Charges

By Beacon Staff

MISSOULA – Two men charged in the 2001 murders of three women at a Florence hair salon have pleaded not guilty to additional federal charges.

Lincoln Benavides and Brian Weber entered their pleas Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah Lynch in Missoula.

Benavides and Weber are accused of killing Brenda Patch, Cynthia Paulus and Dorothy Harris in November 2001.

The defendants are also charged with drug trafficking; and the latest indictment charges them with committing violent crimes in aid of racketeering.

Prosecutors say Weber killed the three women, but it was Benavides who ordered the murders. Details of the slayings remain sealed by the court.