Arrest made in death of college counselor pulled from burning apartment

Police have made an arrest in the killing of Amanda Strous, a 27-year-old community college counselor who was pulled from her burning apartment in Steele Creek on Saturday.

Mathew Thomas Benner, 28, was arrested in Nevada on Monday in an operation that involved U.S. Marshals, Sheriff’s deputies in that state and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s violent criminal apprehension team.

Benner is being held in Nye County jail, awaiting an extradition hearing. It is unclear when he will be returned to Charlotte. Police have not released a motive in Strous’ killing, or said how she was connected to Benner. Strous’ mother said Benner and Strous lived in the same apartment complex, but she said they weren’t dating and she wasn’t sure how they knew each other.

Strous, who moved to Charlotte in February, was pulled from a burning apartment on Toscana Way Saturday and prounounced dead at the hospital shortly afterward.

Investigators say the fire was intentionally set while Strous was inside the apartment. An investigation is ongoing.

Benner, the suspect, is a licensed pilot, according to public records, and has a family connection to Nevada. His brother, Christopher Benner, is an attorney practicing in Las Vegas.

Christopher Benner said he was “addressing legal matters” for his brother until Mathew Benner could hire and attorney, but wouldn’t comment further.

“There's nothing that I can say right now,” Christopher Benner said on Monday.

Mathew Benner is a field service representative for Adacel, according to his LinkedIn page. The company produces aviation, speech recognition, defense simulation and security systems for governments and businesses, according to its website.

Until Monday, he had no criminal record, according to a search of court records conducted by the Observer.

‘The only weekend she was alone’

Firefighters were called to The Enclave at Rivergate, in the 12100 block of Toscana Way, at 5:36 p.m. Saturday. Strous was taken to Carolinas Medical Center-Steele Creek.

She had lived in the apartment since February. Her roommate was in their home state of Pennsylvania for a wedding, said Crystal Strous, Amanda’s mother. Her fiance, Corey Michael, was in Maryland for a guys’ weekend with some of his groomsmen.

“This was the only weekend that she was alone down there,” Crystal Strous said.

Friends responded to news of her death with prayers and support for the family, including posts on Twitter using the hashtag #FlyHigh22. Her field hockey jersey at Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania was No. 22.

A vigil is scheduled for 8:45 p.m. Monday in York, Pa. A gofundme.com page for the Strous family is raising money to help cover the family’s expenses.

Others planned to remember her with a bracelet that showed angel wings and #22. Proceeds from sales would be donated to the family.

Strous was the oldest of three children, and the only girl. She was competitive and athletic – a field hockey and soccer player.

But her competitive spirit was tempered by her regard for others, her mother said.

“She lived her life as graciously and as faith-filled as any parent could have asked for,” Crystal Strous said. “She was genuine and real and very compassionate. She was a wonderful listener.”

Strous moved to Charlotte because her fiance had come here for a job, Crystal Strous said. They planned to be married July 30 and decided to live separately until then.

Amanda Strous had worked for about six months as a student counselor at Central Piedmont Community College’s Harper Campus, off Nations Ford Road, according to Jeff Lowrance, a spokesman for the college. She helped students plan their academic paths, Lowrance said.

“The college is deeply sadden by Amanda’s death,” a statement from the college said. “The thoughts and prayers of the college community are with Amanda’s family, friends and coworkers.”

Shippensburg posted a memorial to her on its website Sunday night. The article says she played field hockey there from 2007-’10, graduating in 2011 with a degree in psychology and a minor in art.

After graduation, she spent a year as an assistant coach at Hamilton College in New York. She returned to Shippensburg in 2012 to work as an assistant coach while studying for a master’s degree in counseling, according to Shippensburg’s statement.

Strous took a course on death and dying during her studies and remarked on her own mortality, according to an excerpt from Shippensburg’s memorial to Strous.

“Please continue to find passion and meaning in your life, for without those two things life is meaningless,” Strous wrote. “Celebrate my life and reminisce through the good times, because I am in a better place and you only live once.”

Shippensburg’s head coach, Bertie Landes, said in the memorial article that she still hears Strous’ voice and laughter.

“One life matters, and indeed, the life of Amanda Strous mattered to her teammates, friends, her family and her beloved Ship Family,” 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.

“Her memory will live in our hearts forever,” Landes said. “May the lessons she taught us through her passion for life guide us in the days ahead.”

Anyone with information about the case is asked to speak with a homicide detective at 704-432-8477 or to call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600. Maria David contributed.

This story was originally published June 20, 2016 at 3:59 PM with the headline "Arrest made in death of college counselor pulled from burning apartment."