RANCHO CORDOVA, CA — Damon Allen Benson, 31, has been sentenced to 71 years to life in state prison for a series of heinous crimes, including the torture of a woman and the murder of her lover, Cameron Gabriel. The sentencing took place in a Placer County courtroom, following Benson’s conviction in September.
In the summer of 2021, Benson, who met the victim on Tinder, engaged in a brutal act of torture by carving a swastika into the back of the Jewish woman while she was tied to his ceiling. His motive was to extract the address of her other lover, 48-year-old Cameron Gabriel, whom she had also met on the dating app.
Driven by jealousy, Benson proceeded to Gabriel’s home in Rocklin, where he ambushed and fatally shot Gabriel. Benson later attempted to justify the killing as self-defense. The Placer County District Attorney’s Office described the case as a “horrific love triangle murder,” highlighting the extreme and violent nature of Benson’s actions.
This case has garnered attention for its shocking brutality and the use of a dating app as a means to commit such violent crimes. The lengthy prison sentence reflects the severity of the offenses and the impact on the victims and their families. The community continues to grapple with the aftermath of this tragic and violent incident.