A man who told police he has been reading about famous serial killer Ted Bundy and wanted to be like him was arrested after he reportedly beat a woman in the head with a hammer, police said.
The woman, whom police say is a known prostitute, fought back against 23-year-old Tyler Benson when he tried to rob her, according to an affidavit of complaint filed by Chattanooga Police Department.
Benson remains in jail on a $180,000 bond on charges of especially aggravated robbery, aggravated assault and patronizing prostitution. His next court date is set for June 11 before General Sessions Court Judge Christine Mahn Sell.
Benson told police he has attacked numerous unidentified prostitutes, according to the affidavit. He said "he enjoyed the power he felt while committing the ... offenses," according to affidavit.
In the incident that got him arrested, Benson told police he started hitting the woman with a hammer because "he did not like that (she) was fighting back and that he wanted her to be afraid of him and for her to do what he said," the report said. At one point, they also struggled over a knife.
Benson picked up the woman on South Willow Street and took her near Bojangles on East 23rd Street, the report said.
During the attack, she sustained cuts to her arms, face and head. She was taken to Erlanger hospital for treatment of her injuries.
For complete details, see tomorrow's Times Free Press.