When you hear the names Amanda Bennett and Kaytlin Root, it usually triggers a specific, dark memory for anyone living in Northwest Missouri around 2016. It's one of those cases that feels like it belongs in a fictional thriller rather than a quiet park in St. Joseph. Honestly, the details are still hard to stomach even years later.
Kaytlin Root was just 17. She was a girl who, by all accounts, just wanted to be liked and included. That desire for connection is eventually what led her to Krug Park on a Sunday night in October. It wasn't a random mugging gone wrong. It wasn't a heat-of-the-moment argument. It was a cold, calculated plan orchestrated by two people she thought were her friends: Amanda Bennett and Sebastian Dowell.
The Night at Krug Park
The investigation into the death of Kaytlin Root moved remarkably fast, but the crime itself was agonizingly slow. On October 16, 2016, joggers found Kaytlin’s body near a trail. She had been strangled and stabbed.
What makes the Amanda Bennett and Kaytlin Root connection so chilling is the "why." Or rather, the lack of a traditional "why." During the investigation, it came out that Bennett and Dowell had been messaging several people on Facebook that night. They weren't looking for Kaytlin specifically. They were looking for anyone who would say yes to hanging out.
- They messaged four or five different people.
- Kaytlin was the only one who replied.
- She walked right into a trap set by someone she knew.
Prosecuting Attorney Dwight Scroggins later pointed out that this randomness is what made the crime so heinous. There was no grievance. There was no debt. There was just a desire to kill.
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The Role of Amanda Bennett
Amanda Bennett was 17 at the time. While both she and her boyfriend, Sebastian Dowell, participated, court records and testimony suggest a very specific dynamic between the two. Dowell’s legal team later argued that Bennett was the "controlling" force in the relationship. They even produced letters Bennett wrote to Dowell while they were in jail, where she seemingly admitted to "fooling" law enforcement into thinking he was the primary instigator.
But the law didn't see it as a one-person show.
Bennett reached out to Kaytlin through Facebook Messenger. That digital paper trail is ultimately what buried them. Detectives found Kaytlin's damaged phone and were able to reconstruct the messages. They saw the lure. They saw the "hey, want to hang out?" messages that led a teenage girl to her death.
Some reports during the trial mentioned a "demonic sacrifice" or "ritualistic" element. While the media latched onto the "dark religion" angle, prosecutors were more focused on the physical evidence. They found gloves. They found the knives. They found a plan that had been discussed before the first message was ever sent.
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Life Sentences and Legal Aftermath
By May 2017, the legal hammer came down. Sebastian Dowell pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. Judge Daniel Kellogg didn't hold back, sentencing him to life in prison. He’ll have to serve at least 25 and a half years before he even smells a chance at parole.
Amanda Bennett also pleaded guilty. Her sentencing followed shortly after Dowell's. She received 25 years in prison.
For the family of Kaytlin Root, these numbers offer little comfort. Kaytlin’s mother, Jamie Jaramillo, has been vocal about the pain of losing a child to such senseless violence. She noted in interviews that while the killers’ families can visit them in prison, she only has a gravesite. It’s a stark, brutal reality.
Key Facts of the Case:
- Location: Krug Park, St. Joseph, Missouri.
- Date of Incident: October 16, 2016.
- Charges: Both defendants pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.
- Sentences: Dowell (Life), Bennett (25 years).
- The Evidence: Facebook Messenger logs and surveillance footage from a convenience store where the couple stopped before the murder.
Why This Case Still Matters
We live in a world where we're constantly told to "be careful online." Usually, that advice is aimed at avoiding scammers or "stranger danger." But the Amanda Bennett and Kaytlin Root story is a reminder that the danger isn't always a stranger. Sometimes, it’s someone you’ve sat in a classroom with.
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The case forced a lot of parents in Missouri to have uncomfortable conversations about social media. It wasn't just about "don't talk to strangers." It was about the fact that digital platforms can be used by anyone—even "friends"—to coordinate harm.
The legal proceedings wrapped up years ago, but the case is still cited in discussions about juvenile justice and the psychology of "follower" vs. "leader" in violent pairings. Sebastian Dowell actually tried to appeal his sentence later, claiming his lawyer was ineffective for not calling a psychological expert to testify about Bennett's influence over him. The court denied it in 2021. The ruling stood.
Actionable Takeaways for Digital Safety
While we can't change what happened to Kaytlin, her story serves as a permanent warning light.
- Verify the "Hanging Out" Plan: If a friend reaches out on social media to meet in a secluded area (like a park at night), always let a third party know exactly where you are going and who you are meeting.
- The "Check-In" System: Use location-sharing features with trusted family members when meeting people, even if you think you know them well.
- Trust Your Gut on "Vibe" Shifts: If a friend starts talking about "dark" themes or violence, even in a way that seems like a joke or "edgy" roleplay, take it seriously. In the Krug Park case, there were red flags about the couple's interests long before that night.
- Social Media Transparency: For parents, it's less about "spying" and more about knowing the circle. Most of the victims Bennett messaged that night simply didn't respond. That silence saved them.
The story of Amanda Bennett and Kaytlin Root is a tragedy of misplaced trust and random cruelty. It remains a cornerstone of Missouri true crime history, not because of some "hidden mystery," but because of the sheer, terrifying normalcy of how it began—with a simple "hello" on a screen.
Next Steps for Awareness:
To stay informed on victim advocacy and digital safety in Missouri, you can follow the updates from the Missouri Department of Public Safety (DPS) regarding victims' rights and community safety programs. Additionally, looking into the National Center for Victims of Crime provides resources for families dealing with the aftermath of violent loss.