Still no answers in murder of Nicole Bennett

The unsolved murder of Nicole Bennett, a 35-year-old mother of three from Millsboro, has turned her family’s life upside-down and left an entire community on edge.

“I don’t want this happening to anyone else,” said Bob Bennett, Nicole’s father-in-law. “She was a sweet, sweet girl and we don’t know why this happened to her.”

Maryland State Police have released no new information about Bennett’s death. No arrests have been made; no cause of death has been released; and no motive has been disclosed in the three weeks since the June 15 discovery of Bennett’s body along a rural road in Whaleyville, Md.

Bennett and her husband, Kevin, rented an apartment with their three young children in the Peninsula at Long Neck. The couple had planned to move to a larger home in Frankford July 14, but the lease has been canceled following Nicole’s death, said Bob Bennett, Kevin’s father.

He said the family has been struggling to find a nanny and daycare for the children. Prior to her death, Nicole and Kevin split their time to watch the kids. Both worked to make ends meet, Bob Bennett said. Kevin was laid off during the recession and is now working two part-time jobs, Bob Bennett said.

“My son is not a suspect. This has been really hard on him and the family,” Bennett said. “He has three girls, and they are all very close.”

In addition to mourning the loss of his wife of 15 years, “Kevin has to learn to tie ribbons in the girls’ hair the way mommy did,” Bennett said.

“We are doing the best in our new roles, and we are going to make it, but it’s rough,” he said.

Their 15-month-old daughter, Allie, continues to suffer from RSV, a virus common among infants, which requires regular nebulizer treatments.

It was the child’s illness that kept Nicole Bennett home during the day June 14. In the early evening, she went to work at Bay Shore Community Church outside Gumboro, to catch up on work she missed during the day.

Bennett recalls the evening of June 14. He ran into Kevin and the three girls at Harris Teeter in Long Neck. The four of them were headed home to eat dinner.

Bennett said during the night, the 15-month-old had awakened and Kevin took her downstairs because she shares a room with her older sister, and he didn’t want to awaken the older child.

“They fell asleep on the futon, and Kevin woke up in a panic the next morning,” said Bennett.

The children are now spending much of their time at their grandparents’ home in Long Neck where Bennett said he and his wife, Mary, are trying to do the best they can to help out. Continuity is key for the children right now, he said.

As the investigation continues, Bennett said Maryland State Police have been keeping in regular contact with the family. He said they have been very kind and helpful, but no arrests have been made.

“We are being overprotective now,” Bennett said. He said Kevin and the children would continue to live in the Peninsula because it is gated and more secure.

“I watch everyone like a hawk now,” Bennett said. “The police work a lot of murders, but this one is unique because this was just a mother trying to help her family. There were no marriage issues … nothing to say why this happened to her.”

Bennett said community support can help the family. Residents can donate to the Nicole Reiser Bennett Fund at WSFS Bank in Millsboro. A website will also be launching in the coming week, said Bennett.

To donate to the Bennett family, stop by a branch or send a check to Nicole Reiser Bennett Memorial Fund, WSFS Bank, Millsboro Branch, 26644 Center View Drive, Millsboro, DE 19966.