Where is Benjamin Peter Ashley now? Details explored ahead of Cabin in the Woods on ID

Benjamin Peter Ashley was a fugitive whose violent spree in 2015 terrorized the rural community of Bakersfield, California, and prompted a manhunt that lasted for 18 days. Ashley carried a string of violent crimes, including the murder of a retired dentist, kidnapping of three men, and shooting of two law enforcement officers.

This turned him into a notorious figure and added intrigue around him because of how he managed to evade the police for weeks in the desert. However, Ashley's crimes came to an end when police fatally shot him on August 15, 2015, during a confrontation in Inyokern, California.

The first episode of Cabin in the Woods, which aired on Investigation Discovery on September 9, detailed the harrowing case of Benjamin Peter Ashley.

Below is a detailed look at Ashley's background, his crime spree, and how he died.

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Benjamin Peter Ashley's background

Outdoorsman and drifter Benjamin Peter Ashley had a checkered past. He lived transiently, mostly in the remote areas of Kern County, California. Described as a loner, Ashley had no permanent residence, and his unpredictability made him a dangerous individual to encounter.

Little is known about his early life. At the point when Ashley became a fugitive, his actions reflected a deep disconnect from society.

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Crime spree and manhunt

Ashley, 38, began his string of crimes by kidnapping three men from a cabin near Twin Oaks, California, on July 28, 2015. The three men were held hostage until they escaped without injuries. Days later, on July 30, the violence escalated when 64-year-old retired dentist David Louis Markiewitz was found shot to death in his cabin, just 10 miles away from the first crime scene. Ashley was believed to be behind the murder.

After this incident, a huge manhunt was launched against Ashley that lasted almost three weeks. On August 1, Ashley reportedly shot and wounded two SWAT officers, who were searching a mobile home.

By that time, Ashley had become the lead suspect in the murder and kidnappings, and his ability to elude capture caused fear in the community. Authorities centered their search in the east of Bakersfield, believing that Ashley was using his survival skills in the desert to hide.

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Confrontation and death

After being on the run for almost three weeks, the search for Benjamin Peter Ashley had a dramatic end on August 15, 2015. A caller informed law enforcement that a man believed to be Ashley was seen near a mini-mart in Inyokern, California, approximately 40 miles from the search area.

Deputies followed the lead and spotted Ashley. He pulled out a gun, and officers opened fire, shooting him dead at the scene. It was never confirmed whether Ashley opened fire on the officers at the confrontation. This brought an end to one of the most intense manhunts in California's recent history.

Ashley's death brought closure to those who were affected by his crimes, but questions about his motivations and his mental state are still unclear.

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This case was detailed in an episode of Cabin in the Woods on ID. Benjamin Peter Ashley showed how even the quietest, most rural areas can become the site of tragedy when people with violent minds start taking things to deadly extremes.