Essence Peters Obituary, Death: 24-Year-Old New Orleans Woman Found Buried in Marigny Street Backyard After Boyfriend Benjamin Camp Admits to Fatal Shooting; Murder Charge Filed in Chilling Domestic Violence Case

The city of New Orleans is reeling from the shocking and deeply disturbing death of Essence Peters, a 24-year-old woman whose life was abruptly and violently ended by someone she knew intimately—her boyfriend, Benjamin Camp. In a case that lays bare the terrifying reality of domestic violence, authorities say Camp called police and confessed to fatally shooting Essence and burying her body in the backyard of a residence located on Marigny Street.

Law enforcement officers arrived swiftly after the confession. What they found was a gruesome confirmation of Camp’s admission: Essence Peters’ body, buried in a shallow grave, concealed just steps away from the home she shared with the man now accused of killing her. Camp was immediately taken into custody and is now facing murder charges, according to local officials.

This case is horrifying not just because of the brutality of the act, but because of how plainly it was delivered. Camp’s alleged confession offered a jarring glimpse into a tragedy already complete before authorities even arrived. There was no search, no manhunt, no whodunit—just a body in the ground and a killer waiting at the door.

As the New Orleans Police Department begins a full-scale homicide investigation, the questions multiply: What led to the shooting? Had there been prior signs of abuse? Did Essence seek help? Could this have been prevented? At this early stage, investigators have not released information about the nature of the couple’s relationship beyond identifying Camp as her boyfriend, nor have they disclosed any prior reports or red flags that might have indicated danger.

Yet the outcome is painfully clear. A young woman is dead, allegedly at the hands of someone she trusted enough to share her home with. And the methodical attempt to hide her body—burying her rather than fleeing—raises additional, haunting questions about Camp’s mindset, planning, and potential intent to evade justice before ultimately turning himself in.

Essence Peters’ death underscores a tragic, recurring pattern seen across communities nationwide: the lethal consequences of intimate partner violence, especially against women. According to national statistics, nearly one in three women in the U.S. experience physical violence from a partner in their lifetime, and thousands are killed each year in acts of domestic homicide. Essence, by all early accounts, has now joined this devastating list.

For her family and loved ones, the heartbreak is layered with horror. Not only must they mourn the loss of a daughter, a sister, a friend—but they must do so while grappling with the chilling reality of how she died and where she was found. The backyard burial site, so close to the everyday rhythms of life, becomes a grim symbol of how easily violence can be hidden—how silent, how sudden, and how final it can be.

As the legal process begins, Benjamin Camp will face scrutiny not just from prosecutors, but from a community demanding answers. It is expected that forensic evidence will be gathered from the scene, alongside any communication records, social media activity, and witness statements that could help prosecutors establish a timeline and motive. Depending on findings, Camp could face additional charges beyond murder, especially if investigators uncover evidence of premeditation or prior abuse.

For now, Camp remains in custody, and police are urging anyone with knowledge of the relationship or prior incidents to come forward. Investigators are also reviewing whether Essence ever reached out for help—either formally through law enforcement or quietly to friends and family. That information may become critical in understanding not only how this tragedy occurred, but whether any intervention could have saved her life.

The home on Marigny Street is now a crime scene. Neighbors, stunned by the revelations, have described a mix of disbelief and sorrow. “You never think something like this is happening just a few houses down,” one local resident told reporters. “It’s not just scary—it’s heartbreaking.”

As news spreads and vigils begin to form, Essence Peters is being remembered not just for the violent way she died, but for the full and vibrant person she was in life. While full details of her background haven’t been released, tributes online speak of a young woman with potential, with laughter, with presence. A person who deserved safety, dignity, and time.

Her death is now part of a larger conversation—one that involves domestic abuse prevention, mental health awareness, community vigilance, and law enforcement response. It raises difficult but necessary questions: What mechanisms are in place to protect women like Essence? What signs were missed? How do we better intervene in toxic relationships before they reach their breaking point?

In many ways, this tragedy is not unique. And that is what makes it all the more infuriating. Essence Peters deserved more than to become another statistic—another obituary tied to a story of violence, another life lost to the person who once claimed to love her.

As her name echoes across New Orleans and beyond, may it be a call for change. May her story prompt families, friends, and institutions to listen more closely, act more decisively, and protect more fiercely. And may justice, in whatever form it comes, reflect not just the weight of what was lost, but the worth of the woman lost to it.