Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

UI murder suspect and student killed had a sexual relationship

According to Moscow Police, University of Idaho graduate student Katy Benoit and the suspect in her murder, former UI assistant professor Ernesto Bustamante, began a sexual relationship during the fall 2010 semester.

The relationship ended in May of this year, and Benoit filed a sexual harassment complaint with the UI on June 12, alleging that threats of violence occurred on three separate occasions where Bustamante held a gun to her head. Bustamante denied the allegations.

Bustamante’s body was found the morning after the murder in a local hotel room. Police say they found weapons and prescriptions drugs in the room, including the .45 caliber handgun believed to be the weapon used to kill Benoit, and a .44 caliber revolver believed to be the weapon used by Bustamante to commit suicide.

Police say they also discovered prescription drugs used to treat depression, anxiety, epilepsy, and bipolar disorder, all contained in bottles bearing Bustamante’s name.

Copyright 2011 Northwest Public Radio