French sentenced to life in prison for murder of MSU freshman, roommate

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Lansing resident Benjamin French, 23, was sentenced to life in prison without parole after being found guilty of all charges for the March 2010 deaths of MSU student Darren Brown and roommate Owen Goodenow on Wednesday.

The ruling came down in Lansing’s 30th Circuit Court following testimony from Suzanne Goodenow, Goodenow’s mother, written statements from Brown’s mother and father and a short testimony from French.

The guilty verdict on two counts of first degree murder and one count each of armed robbery, felony firearms possession and conspiracy to commit murder was reached Dec. 21 2011.

During French’s trial, the jury was presented with evidence suggesting French and alleged co-conspirator David Marion Jr. broke into Brown and Goodenow’s home to steal money and marijuana from a safe in Goodenow’s room.

French likely will file an appeal against the charges, French’s attorney G. Michael Hocking said.

Marion’s trial is scheduled to be held March 5.

Keep checking statenews.com and tomorrow’s edition of The State News for further updates.

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