CHARLOTTE, NC — A man is charged with the murder of a Dallastown native killed in Charlotte, NC. Mathew Thomas Benner, 28, is charged with the murder of Amanda Strous. Strous, 27, graduated from Dallastown High School in 2007 and Shippensburg University in 2011, and had been living in Charlotte.
Investigators have determined that the fire at her home was intentionally set and ruled her death a homicide. Charlotte firefighters were able to pull Strous from the burning apartment, but she later died at the hospital.
As a result of information and evidence gathered during the investigation, detectives identified Benner as the suspect in the case and obtained warrants for his arrest and immediately requested assistance from the Violent Criminal Apprehension Team in locating Benner.
Earlier today, Benner was arrested in Nevada through a combined effort of the U.S. Marshals Violent Offender Task Force, the Nye County Sheriff’s Office and the VCAT. Benner is currently in the custody of the Nye County Sheriff’s Office awaiting extradition. There is no timetable on his return. Banner will be charged with Murder and 1st degree Arson.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call 704-432-TIPS and speak directly to a Homicide Unit Detective. Detective Grosse is the lead detective assigned to the case. The public can also call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600 or visit the Crime Stoppers mobile app website at http://charlottecrimestoppers.com/.
Strous (York, Pa./Dallastown) played field hockey at Shippensburg from 2007-10, graduating in the spring of 2011 with a bachelor of science in psychology and a minor in art.
She was a forward who played in 79 games for the Raiders, totaling 24 goals and 13 assists for 61 career points.
As a senior in 2010, a season in which Shippensburg competed in the NCAA Division II National Championship game, Strous served as a team captain and had a career year. She totaled 11 goals and five assists.
After spending her first year after graduation as an assistant coach at Hamilton College (N.Y.), Strous returned to Shippensburg in the fall of 2012 – beginning a three-year run as an assistant coach to Bertie Landes while studying for her master’s degree.
In 2013, Strous was the primary assistant on the Shippensburg squad that won its first-ever NCAA Division II National Championship. Two years later, Strous earned her master’s degree in mental health counseling from Shippensburg.
“One life matters, and indeed, the life of Amanda Strous mattered to her teammates, friends, her family and her beloved Ship Family,” head coach Bertie Landes said. “Her love, care and concern for each of us was reflected in her daily life while at Ship and in her move to North Carolina.”
Landes added: “I can still hear her laughter and her voice. Her memory will live in our hearts forever. May the lessons she taught us through her passion for life guide us in the days ahead. Our thoughts and prayers are for her fiancé, and her family, in the difficult days ahead. May we all re-dedicate ourselves to serving others as Amanda did in her short life with us.”
Amanda was employed as a student counselor at Central Piedmont Community College. She worked at the Harper Campus. She had been employed at CPCC for about six months. She helped students plan their academic paths and helped them be successful in their programs of study.
The college released a statement today. It says the college is deeply saddened by Amanda’s death. The thoughts and prayers of the college community are with Amanda’s family, friends and coworkers.
Strous, 27, was engaged to be married on July 30.
