Essence Obituary, Death: 24-Year-Old New Orleans Woman Found Buried in Backyard After Boyfriend Benjamin Camp Confesses to Fatal Shooting; Murder Charge Filed in Marigny Street Homicide

In a case that has shaken the community and horrified even seasoned investigators, the life of 24-year-old Essence was violently and tragically cut short in New Orleans, Louisiana. The young woman’s body was discovered buried in the backyard of a residence on Marigny Street after her boyfriend, Benjamin Camp, placed a chilling call to police, confessing that he had fatally shot her and concealed her body.

Officers responded immediately to the address provided. What they encountered was not a mystery in need of solving, but the grim aftermath of a confessed act of violence. Camp, reportedly calm and cooperative, was arrested on the spot. Authorities soon unearthed Essence’s body from a makeshift grave in the backyard—an act of violence hidden in plain sight, now exposed in the stark light of day.

The implications of this case are staggering—not just in its brutality, but in its clarity. The alleged perpetrator admitted his actions outright. There was no chase, no dispute about guilt in those early moments. Just a young woman gone, and a man in handcuffs who claimed responsibility.

Camp is now facing murder charges, and the case has moved swiftly into the hands of New Orleans homicide detectives, who are working to piece together a timeline and motive. At this time, few details have been made public about what led up to the shooting—whether there had been prior incidents of domestic violence, whether Essence had sought help, or whether neighbors had witnessed signs of turmoil. What is clear is that her death did not come from an accident or act of random violence, but from someone she trusted and lived with.

The methodical nature of the crime—the burial, the delayed call to police—points to a deliberate effort not only to end a life but to erase its physical trace, if only temporarily. That he turned himself in is small solace in a case so profoundly intimate and violent.

In a city all too familiar with loss, Essence’s death cuts especially deep. She was just 24 years old, a young woman whose life was still unfolding. Her name now joins a tragic and ever-growing list of women who have died at the hands of men they were close to—partners, boyfriends, husbands. Intimate partner violence remains a public health crisis across the U.S., and this case reinforces that the danger often lies not in public spaces, but behind closed doors.

The community surrounding Marigny Street is reeling, and so are Essence’s family and friends. The senselessness of the act, the horror of the aftermath, and the stark finality of her death are too much to comprehend. Her loved ones must now grieve not only the loss of her life but the violent betrayal that took it away.

As the investigation continues and legal proceedings begin, the case against Benjamin Camp will likely include forensic analysis, psychological evaluations, and possibly a deeper examination of the couple’s relationship history. For now, he remains in custody, awaiting trial for a crime that, by his own admission, he carried out.

Essence’s story is not just a headline—it is a human tragedy, a warning, and a cry for awareness. In the wake of her death, advocates are once again calling for stronger protections for domestic violence victims, more resources for intervention, and greater public understanding of the signs of coercive or abusive behavior.