Son recalls chilling exchange during testimony in Randal Benton trial

ST. GEORGE -- Michael Palmer took the witness stand Wednesday and recalled the night his mother died and the words she said to him:

"My cellphone is on. If I'm not back in 20 minutes, call me. If I don't answer, call the police," he testified that his mom told him.

His mother, Treva Benton, left their Summerville house with her estranged husband, Randal William Benton, after he came looking for a ride home when his truck broke down. The pair had been separated for several months, Palmer testified, and his mother had a new boyfriend.

Palmer said he and his girlfriend argued after his mother left and that he lost track of time the night of Oct. 30, 2010. He realized 20 minutes had passed and dialed his mother.

When she didn't answer, he called again. No answer.

"I felt it wasn't right," Palmer testified. So the teenager left the house with a baseball bat and began walking toward the bar where

Randal Benton said his truck had died.

Palmer's testimony came on the second day of the trial, which is to continue today.

To get to the bar, Palmer had to walk past the Perkins Family Restaurant on Trolley Road, where his mother had been shot eight times. Witnesses recalled seeing Treva and Randal Benton arguing in the parking lot and then seeing Randal fire a gun at Treva over and over, even as she tried to crawl away.

Police stopped Palmer as he drew closer to the crime scene and began questioning him about where he was headed with a baseball bat. One officer asked Palmer for a description of his stepfather.

Authorities said Randal Benton fled to Alabama where he was arrested.

Alabama investigators testified in court Wednesday that they found a 9 mm pistol on the floorboard of Benton's truck. One sergeant said Benton wore a blank expression, that he "had a 20-mile stare," when they caught up with him.

Benton, now 48, attempted to enter a plea in the murder case against him last month, but a judge rejected the agreement after Benton said he didn't know if the facts of the case, as presented by the prosecutor, were correct. Benton intended to enter an Alford plea that day, meaning he did not admit to killing Treva Benton but acknowledged that prosecutors likely could prove the charge.

He faces 30 years to life in prison without parole if convicted of murder.