Joan Bent Murder Case: Husband Donald Bent Arrested – When Joan Bent went missing from her Watervliet, New York, home in February 1986, the police tried all they could to find out what had happened.
Besides, Joan’s husband, Donald Bent, was obviously heartbroken and distraught about his wife’s death. ‘A Fatal Fling,’ a documentary on Inquiry Discovery, follows the terrible murder and how the subsequent investigation found a dark scheme festering close to home. Let’s take a closer look at the case and see where the criminal is right now.
Born on November 29, 1938, she died at the age of 47 in 1986.
Joan’s murder case came to light after 30 years as Investigation Discovery has brought out a TV program A Fatal Fling, which chronicles the shocking murder and the real perpetrator who turned out to be one of her close family members.
How Did Joan Bent Die?
Joan Bent was a loving wife who resided with her husband, Donald Bent, in Watervliet, New York. She was quite respected in the community, and her family described her as a kindhearted and lively woman who loved making people smile. To the outside world, Joan and Donald had a perfect marriage and were both proud parents. With lots of friends and no immediate enemy, even Joan’s loved ones couldn’t figure out why someone would hurt her.
When Donald Bent reported Joan missing on February 17, 1986, the Watervliet police immediately put their best foot forward in the case. Donald seemed quite anxious, and the police believed that he was terrified of something terrible happening to his wife. The search for Joan went on for several days without any progress. She was reported to have gone missing while driving a Chrysler sedan that could not be located.
People formed massive search parties and combed through the nearby areas as Joan’s family held on to the hope of her safe return. However, it was not to be; on the 11th day of Joan’s disappearance, authorities were able to locate the missing vehicle outside a Holiday Inn in Menands in Albany County. Inside, police discovered Joan’s frozen and deceased body.
Joan Bent Murder Case: How Did She Die? Who Killed Joan Bent?
Joan Bent’s husband Donald Bent killed her as noted in The Cinemaholic.
Joan was reported missing for the first time on February 17, 1986. After 11 days, the police discovered her body solidly frozen in the trunk of the car. When her body was taken to a hospital for an autopsy, the autopsy revealed that she died of asphyxiation caused by strangulation.
The police and other investigation authorities were working to identify the true murderer. Donald, Joan’s husband, was initially unconcerned because he was the one who notified the police about his wife’s disappearance.
However, when they discovered through medical reports that Joan’s food remained undigested in her stomach, Donald’s suspicions were aroused because they both ate the same food together before Joan went missing. As a result, Donald was arrested and put on trial.
Donald finally admitted to his daughter Dawn Bent in 2015 that he was the one who murdered Joan.
Murderer Husband Donald Bent Arrested – Where Is He Now?
Donald Bent, Joan Bent’s husband, was arrested and convicted of murder in 1988.
He was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for murdering his wife.
Donald Bent has passed away. According to police, he murdered his wife after learning that Joan was going to file for divorce.
Actually, in 2020, Donald Bent died in Cohoes, New York, 17 months after his release as per Find A grave.
According to the investigations, he strangled his wife the night before he reported her missing on February 16, 1986, at their Watervliet home. Donald strangled her and stuffed her body in the trunk of her car before driving it to Menands.
He returned home after leaving her dead body and car, called the police, and thus played the role of the bereaved husband in front of the television and cameras.
More Details On Joan Bent Daughter Dawn Bent
Joan Bent shared a daughter Dawn Bent with her husband Donald Bent.
And, Donald, who kept denying of killing his wife or found to be not guilty, eventually opened up about the hidden truth and confessed his crime to his daughter Dawn at last.
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