KINGMAN – A Kingman man awaits sentencing following his first-degree murder conviction at trial. The Mohave County Superior Court jury deliberated for about an hour on April 8 before finding Benjamin Dann, 25, guilty in the Jan., 2018 death of Kirklin Roach, 37, Kingman.

Court records reveal that Dann admitted abducting and killing Roach because he thought Roach was trying to be romantically involved with the mother of Dann’s child. Dann told detectives that Roach also admitted molesting his own children.

A Probable Cause (PC) statement indicated that Dann and co-defendant Alfred Talavera, 34, Kingman picked Roach up when they spotted him walking at night. It said that Dann drove while Roach was in the front passenger seat with Talavera behind Roach.

“Talavera wrapped the passenger seat belt around the victim’s neck and began to strangle the victim,” the affidavit said. “The victim begged for his life and told both the defendant and Talavera that he had kids.”

Dann told detectives that Talavera forced Roach to the front of the vehicle after they parked in the area behind the Kingman airport. Dann said Talavera used a hammer to strike Roach in the arm and head.

Dann said he took the hammer from Talavera and struck Roach four more times in the head. The victim’s body was found at least a week after he was killed.

Dann faces 25 years to natural life in prison when sentenced May 7 by Judge Derek Carlisle. Talavera is in custody awaiting start of his trial in Sept.

Dave Hawkins