Dallas man sentenced to 30 years in prison for murder and robbery of Waco man

WACO, Texas (KWTX) – A Dallas man who supplied a gun used in the robbery and murder of a Waco man whose body was found in a creek near Baylor University in January 2023 was sentenced to 30 years in prison Thursday.

Alijah Veshawn Benson, 21, pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery during a hearing in 19th District Court, admitting his role in the incident and incriminating his two co-defendants.

Brandon Xavier Stephens, 20, and James Keylan Willis, 20, both of Waco, are charged with capital crimes in connection with the shooting of Stanley Wilcox, 59, who was reported missing on Dec. 29, 2022.

The trial dates for Stephens and Willis are scheduled for October.

Wilcox's body was found in a creek bed in the 1100 block of South Ninth Street on the edge of the Baylor campus.

Benson testified Thursday that he gave Stephens and Willis the gun at a McDonald's in Dallas on Dec. 22, 2022. He said he knew they were planning a robbery when he gave them the gun.

He said he never left Dallas, but testified the gun was loaded when he gave it to them, but it was unloaded when they returned it to him the next day. He said he knew then that someone had been shot.

After their arrest, Willis and Stephens told investigators that Wilcox had been shot during an argument at his home and they decided to “put him out of his misery,” a complaint states.

Waco police investigators obtained Wilcox's cellphone after a homeless woman dropped it off at a convenience store. Investigators spoke with employees at Wilcox's gym and they said he had not been there in more than 10 days, which is unusual for him, the affidavit states.

Detectives went to Wilcox's home in the 800 block of Garrett Avenue and found three people, identified in affidavits as Willis, Stephens and a 17-year-old female, “living at the home,” the affidavit states.

According to police, Willis initially told investigators that Wilcox left his home around Christmas Eve and left him his keys.

All rights reserved.