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National City man charged with murder of 2017 missing person

National City man charged with murder of 2017 missing person
Posted at 12:29 PM, Jun 12, 2018
and last updated 2018-06-12 19:29:27-04

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - Police have made an arrest in a 2017 missing person's case that turned into a homicide investigation.

Peter Bentz, 68, was reported missing on Dec. 7, 2017, after he didn't show up to a family Thanksgiving dinner. He was not heard from for several days, family members said.

Initially, police investigated Bentz's disappearance as a missing person's case. During the course of the investigation, though, police said evidence led them to believe it was actually a homicide case, San Diego Police said.

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After continuing the case, SDPD identified an acquaintance of Bentz's, 47-year-old Brain Hancock of National City, as a suspect.

Hancock was arrested on another matter and already in police custody. He has now been charged with Bentz's murder.

Hancock pled not guilty to the charges in court Tuesday. He faces 75 years to life in prison if convicted, City News Service said.

Anyone with information in the case is asked to call SDPD at 619-531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.