BREAKING: Philly Contractor Sentenced In Deadly Demolition

PHILADELPHIA, PA - The Philadelphia contractor accused of recklessly rushing a 2013 demolition which ultimately led to the deaths of six people has been sentenced to 15 to 30 years in prison.

The decision on Griffin Campbell, 51, was handed down Friday morning, the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office announced.

Sean Benshop, the operator of the machinery during the incident, was sentenced to 7.5 to 12 years.

“Campbell’s and Benshop’s sentence reflects the nature of their crimes and the suffering of the victims. We now know justice has been served,” District Attorney Seth Williams said in a statement.

Campbell was found guilty of manslaughter in October.

On June 5, 2013, a wall fell from a building being demolished on the corner of 22nd and Market Streets in center city.

The wall crashed into the Salvation Army thrift store below, killing six and injuring 13 more.

“I cannot even begin to imagine the pain and grief Mr. Campbell and Mr. Benshop caused the friends
and families of those who lost their lives, and those who were injured,” Williams added. “The Assistant District Attorneys who prosecuted this case and me hope that today’s sentences make clear the need for safe demolitions in our city and, most importantly, it helps to bring closure to the victims’ loved ones who are still dealing with this tragedy.”

Campbell was responsible for the demolition of the property that was located at 2140 Market St. In addition to overseeing the day-to-day operations at the site, Campbell put in place a demolition plan that left a four-story masonry wall unsupported above the Salvation Army Building.

In July of 2015, Benschop plead guilty to six counts of Involuntary Manslaughter and the additional charges of Aggravated Assault, Conspiracy, Causing a Catastrophe and thirteen Counts of Reckless Endangerment. Benschop was the operator of an excavator that was used to demolish the building next to the Salvation Army building when it collapsed, killing Juanita Harmon, Roseline Conteh,
Mary Simpson, Kimberly Finnegan, Anne Bryan and Borbor Davis.

Mariya Plekan suffered serious and permanent injury.

Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Selber, Chief of the DAO’s Homicide Unit, along with Edward Cameron, the Assistant Chief of the DAO’s Homicide Unit, prosecuted the collapse cases.