Bennie Wint Reappears After Faking A Fatal Swim In the Ocean 20 Years Ago

One has to wonder whether Bennie Wint said as a child, "I would be better off dead!" This is not picking on just another adult in the news. Bennie Wint faked his drowning death nearly 20 years ago off a Florida beach. Unfortunately for Bennie, his secret was discovered when he was stopped by North Carolina police for a bulb burnt out on his license plate. Bennie Wint apparently admitted to police that he faked his drowning death in Daytona Beach, Florida, in 1989. (Not to bright to talk to the authorities without a lawyer, Bennie.)

Big deal, you might say. What's the harm? Well, Bennie Wint in essence abandoned a grieving fiancee and a daughter from a previous marriage. During his "absence from this world," Bennie acquired a common-law wife and another child in Marshall, North Carolina.

So why did he fake his death? According to police, Bennie said that he faked his drowning because he was "paranoid" about his narcotics-related activity. When pulled over for the traffic stop, Bennie gave his name as James Sweet. He was then arrested on suspicion of driving without a license and giving false information, both misdemeanors. He was booked under the name "John Doe." He then admitted that he was Bennie Wint. Reports of death were premature
According to police reports, Wint in Daytona Beach with Patricia Hollingsworth, his fiance when he supposedly drowned. On September 25, 1989, Hollingsworth told beach patrol officials that Wint disappeared while swimming. Volusia County Beach Patrol Capt. Scott Petersohn was one of the officers on beach patrol at the time. Apparently, helicopters, boats and lifeguards searched for Wint to no avail.

Wint's daughter was four when he disappeared. Now she is a 23-year-old woman. Wint has been released from jail. To date, he has not been charged in his 1989 disappearance. One suspects; however, a back child support award may be punishment enough!