twist of fait accomplis

I'm kind of surprised that's all he got.

30 years was the max he could get for what he was found guilty of, unfortunately.

Somehow I think that mutilating a dead body should carry it's own penalities above and beyond what he was found guilty of.

Atleast he will do sometime and did not get away with it all I suppose, but it would have been nice to see him get a longer sentence!!!

Joshua was a very good friend of mine and I have been best friends with Mark and Debbie for over 15 yrs. I am aboslutely appauled with the verdict handed down to Benjamin, he was there he directly or indirectly was involved with the murders (not the first time I bet either) and should never be allowed to see the light of day again. How this jury aquitted him in Josh's murder is so far beyond my comprehension and it sickens me to no end. I can only hope now that Josh and Gene can finally rest in peace and watch over those of left behind to deal with the pain and anguish of losing two wonderful people.

In my opinion I think both Erika and Benjamin
Sifrit should have been given the death penalty
death by lethal injection at the
Super-Max Prison in Baltimore,Maryland
Martha Genie Crutchley and Joshua E. Ford's
lives were taken away while Erika and Benjamin
are still living while in state prison.
That is wrong!!!!

Earlier tonight, I watched a show on satelite about this crime. I got so mad afterwards, when I heard the punishment these criminals received for their crimes. The Sifrits invited a couple back to their condo. They killed and dismembered their victims. A thrill killing. First degree, cold blooded, premeditated murder=The Death Penalty.

I just found this: "The victim's families opposed seeking the death penalty for the Sifrits, the prosecutor's office said."

http://www.pittsburghfirst.com/localnews/20030815altoonareg8p8.asp

I too am apauled by the decision of the Jury. When a person can kill and butcher 2 people - who in the world will be safe upon his release? As for Erika, I do hope that she rots and as small as she is - I hope she finds prison life suitable to the life she lived on the outside. I do get some comfort knowing that she's nothing against the her prison buddies and I hope she lives in constant fear every wakening moment. As for her husband, perhaps another inmate will find what he did replusive and none of us will have to worry about his release.

As for Martha and Josh's families, I pray that someday your pain will lessen and you find a way to remember your loved ones in life and not in their unfortunate deaths. I could not even begin to imagine your pain and pray I never have to. God bless all of you and give you the strength to somehow overcome your loss.

Lynette

I have heard a first hand account of what happened from someone who lived with Benjamin Sifrit before and after he met and married his wife, Erica. Benjamin was an impressionable and brillian young man who was honorable and excellent at his job. His friends adored him; saying that he was inexperienced with women, but asside from that was an outstanding person. Once he met and married Erica, his trouble began. She had psychotic fits in bars, home, in places where the public and witnesses said she would turn into a jealous rage. She was insanely jealous of anyone that would even be close to Benjamin, male or female. She brought heavy drugs into the relationship and convinced Benjamin to get tattoos, read Hitler books, and become detached from life as a result of constant drug use. She was into playing games and stealing from people and she shot and killed two people and then to help her, Benjamin hid the bodies for her. Too bad for him. What he did was not excusable, but that is what happens when you allow a bad seed, like Erica, to influence your life with tantric sexual reality and drugs. Benjamin's life is ruined because he made very poor choices.

I am a geneologist and came across an obit for a dana gates in bedford county pa. The last info I could find indicated that the sifrits may have been involved in her beating death and her fiance was beaten badly. My inquiry is "What about lorin burket" Did he recover from his beating and if so did he not see his assailant or assailant's. This is very much like a cold case unsolved with this question left unanswered. Thanks

i want to see me cousin i havent met him.

are you serious do you really think ben is the bistander in this , erika did not shoot anyone you must be pretty stupid to think she is the one, she is a victim to she was in love with a man who lied to her abused her and took away her diginity i know erika she is wonderful seraching for someone to love her, and i also know people who are locked up with ben he is so crazy he has to be on 23 hour lock down beacuse he trys to hurt people he is sick and he tryed to change erika but she is great and she will come home to her wonderful family so before u blame her know the facts

Diana,
Did you go to Mary Wash with Erika? I graduated same year as her. If you did, I would like you to email me. I'll check back here for a reply.

hey no i was in prison with erika and she is amazing and wnderful and deserves another chance at life.

Diana,
You should contact M. William Phelps. He is writing a book about the murders and the people involved and really wants to hear from people who know those involved. His email address is mwilliamphelps@comcast.net. You can see a blog about his planned book at http://www.crimerant.com/?p=1447
Take care.

If anyone is interested, I'd like to talk about Erika and/or BJ, but especially Joshua Ford and Martha Crutchley, the victims. I'd like write about the people they were, not just what happened to them.

Thanks,
M. William Phelps

HEY I WOULD NEVER TALK TO THAT AUOTHOR UNLESS IT WAS TO HELP ERIKA. I HATE THIS GUY HE WILL PROBLEY LIE ABOUT ERIKA LIKE EVERYONE ELSE DOES. THE ONLY WAY I WOULD TALK ABOUT HER IS TO HELP HER. SO TAKE YOUR BOOK WRITNG SOME WHERE ELSE

Unfortunately, in situations like this, it is the people who know the victims or perpetrators best who do not speak to the media. However, the people who do not know those involved very well at all are far too willing to speak to anyone and spread rumors. It would be nice to get a better picture of these people because whatever I have seen on TV about this crime was terrible and over the top, like Snapped.

bottom line who cares who was the real manipulator. they are adults and committed a crime they need to take responsibilty for their actions. two people are dead for what they did and some people who knew bj or erika are supporting them. what about the people they murdered. come on!