Netflix Docu-Series ‘Worst Ex Ever’ Tells Gruesome Story Of Las Vegas Man Who Tortured Girlfriend
Warning: This article talks about domestic violence.
A new Netflix docu-series called “Worst Ex Ever” features a man who lived in Las Vegas and went on multiple rampages, committing violent and shocking crimes against several women.
The new series has four episodes, each focusing on a different story of violent, near-murderous and conniving ex-partners. The first episode tells the story of a Las Vegas man named Benjamin Obadiah Foster, who had a disturbing trend of committing severe domestic violence and torture, according to the documentary.
The cycle of abuse ended with a manhunt, and police even warned the public that he may have used “dating apps” to escape law enforcement. This series gives an insight into the intricate and heart-wrenching stories of violence.
Related: After 4 Years, Beloved Vegas Woman Lesly Palacio’s Killer Finally Found In Mexico
Who Was Benjamin Obadiah Foster, Featured In Netflix’s ‘Worst Ex Ever’ Docu-Series?
In the first episode of “Worst Ex Ever” titled “Dancing With The Devil,” the scene starts with an intense 911 call that sets the tone and severity of the crimes committed by Benjamin Obadiah Foster. The episode then unfolds to tell the stories of women who were victims of Foster and his intense violence.
According to People Magazine, Foster is from Oregon but moved to Nevada. However, this is where the trail of intense domestic violence starts.
Throughout the episode, you meet the first featured ex-partner. She met Foster while working as a server in a Las Vegas day club, according to the show “Worst Ex Ever.” Benjamin and the woman, only identified as Amber, started dating. However, things turned sour and eventually Amber broke up with Foster when he became increasingly violent.
After a few months of breaking up, Amber and Foster started hanging out again. But, he continued to be violent. Eventually, he tried to strangle and stab Amber, according to the documentary. He ended up framing Amber as the aggressor, and police arrested Amber. Eventually, the Las Vegas court dropped the case, the documentary states.
Benjamin Obadiah Foster Holds Ex-Partner Captive For 2 Weeks
The second victim in the documentary, “Worst Ex Ever,” identified as Jaimee, tells another gruesome story of the abuse she endured from Foster. She helped Foster after he lost his job, and he lived with her. But he became increasingly more controlling and violent. Then, she filed a restraining order against Foster, which is when he snapped.
Foster held her captive for two weeks — yes two entire weeks. Forbes reported that the victim “sustained seven broken ribs, two black eyes, and injuries from being bound with zip ties and duct tape.” In the episode, she told her heart-wrenching story of survival and escape. She said that Foster even shaved her head to further humiliate her before holding her captive.
Eventually, she escaped, and officials charged him with five felonies. He faced decades in prison. However, he reached a deal with Clark County. The Associated Press reports that the deal allowed him to plead guilty to felony and misdemeanor battery, which ended up with the judge sentencing him to serve 2 1/2 years in prison.
But, he ended up only serving one day. This is because the judge factored in the 729 days Foster waited in jail during the trial, AP said.
Justine Siemens’ Story Of Survival
The last story featured in the documentary loops back to the beginning of the episode — which is the 911 call. This last incident happened in Grants Pass, Oregon, and the victim’s name is Justine Siemens. The 911 call was Justine Siemens’ friend, who was concerned after getting an unnerving phone call from Justine.
The episode also shows true friendship and the power behind believing your gut instinct. After receiving this phone call, Justine’s friend drove to her house and found Justine unconscious, beaten and tortured.
The small town was shocked by the degree of violence from these crimes. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that unlike the other domestic violence cases in Las Vegas, this case drew national attention. A manhunt ensued and Foster bounced around the surrounding areas, trying to find refuge from the police.
The manhunt ends with Foster shooting himself, the documentary states. Justine survived and continues to heal and thrive.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police’s Response To Releasing Foster
In the documentary, the producers said they reached out to Las Vegas law enforcement for a comment. However, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police did not respond to requests for comment.
According to News 3, Nevada ranks second place for states with the highest rate of men killing women.
Currently, the Nevada Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence is working to support state policies that support crime victims.
According to a summary from Rep. Ann Wagner’s office, the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 had a drastic decline of funding in recent years. Groups like the Nevada Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence are working to stabilize these acts and policies that support crime victims.
“According to the Office for Victims of Crime, the CVF’s end-of-year balance for FY2024 was $1.2 billion—a 90% decrease since FY2017,” the summary states. “As a result of this shortfall, the victim assistance programs supported by the CVF nationwide now face a devastating $600 million cut in funding compared to last year.”
If you or someone else needs help, please call the domestic violence hotline at 775-221-7600 or text SASS to 839863 for free, confidential support. Click here for a list of domestic violence shelters across Nevada.
10 Most Common Cybercrimes According to the FBI
1. Credit card fraud
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– Total loss in 2020: $129,820,792
– Total victims in 2020: 17,614According to the FBI, “Credit card fraud is the unauthorized use of a credit or debit card, or similar payment tool (ACH, EFT, recurring charge, etc.), to fraudulently obtain money or property.” Criminals can gain access to credit and debit card information in identity theft schemes or by stealing them from websites that aren’t secure. Anyone can be targeted when it comes to credit card fraud.
A digital payment survey by American Express found 42% of consumers reported having been a victim of credit card fraud with someone attempting to use their credit card or other payment information. Protection comes with vigilance and taking steps like only purchasing from reputable sources and ensuring transactions are secure when sending credit card information via the internet. Other steps to protect yourself include not sharing credit card numbers, reviewing your monthly credit card bill, setting up text alerts on your phone so you receive reports of suspicious credit card activity, and trusting your instincts—if something appears too good to be true, it probably is.
2. Tech support fraud
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– Total loss in 2020: $146,477,709
– Total victims in 2020: 15,421This type of fraud can occur when a tech support scammer reaches out to offer services to protect or fix your computer. They may try to entice consumers to click on pop-ups that warn of security issues and provide a phone number to call. They may also ask for access to your computer or credit card information.
According to the Internet Crime Report 2020, at least 66% of the victims of this type of fraud were over the age of 60. The best way to protect yourself from this type of scam is to ignore pop-ups and avoid calling any numbers, restarting your computer, or clicking on any links. They could contain malware that allows scammers to access your computer or credit card information.
3. Personal data breach
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– Total loss in 2020: $194,473,055
– Total victims in 2020: 45,330A personal data breach is a security breach where protected, sensitive, or confidential information is transmitted, processed, stolen, or viewed by an individual or party who is not authorized to do so. Many types of personal information can be compromised in a breach such as credit card information, email addresses, and other sensitive information. Data breaches can happen when a hacker accesses a computer and steals files, through ransomware or malware attacks, phishing scams, or denial of service.
Preventing a personal breach is possible though. Creating complex passwords and changing them frequently, setting up account alerts, using multifactor authentication, and shopping with a credit card are all helpful steps to prevent such breaches and to keep your personal information safe.
4. Real estate fraud
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– Total loss in 2020: $213,196,082
– Total victims in 2020: 13,638Loan flipping is a predatory practice that happens when a lender convinces a homeowner to repeatedly refinance their mortgage, accruing high fees and points with each refinance. It is just one type of real estate fraud to watch out for. Escrow wire fraud, rental scams, moving scams, and foreclosure relief also qualify as real estate fraud.
Homebuyers and real estate agents should be especially diligent. Keep personal information secure, use licensed lenders and realtors for all transactions, never pay upfront fees for home services, and educate yourself on how to spot a scam. Be aware of anyone pressuring you to make quick decisions, and be wary of improper documentation and requests for wire transfers of large sums of money.
5. Spoofing
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– Total loss in 2020: $216,513,728
– Total victims in 2020: 28,218Spoofing occurs when a cybercriminal attempts to present themselves as another person, company, or entity, such as a trusted source like a bank, to gain access to personal information or commit other malicious acts. They can do this in a variety of ways from spoofing websites, phone numbers, and email addresses to spoofing Domain Name Servers (DNS), Address Resolution Protocol (ARP), or IP addresses.
To detect website spoofing, make sure the website uses the HTTPS encryption prefix and includes a padlock, and look for errors in spelling or broken links, or suspicious contact information. Email spoofing can also be detected by looking for errors or suspicious-looking attachments or links, which should not be clicked. Protecting yourself from this type of cybercrime means remaining aware, regularly changing passwords, calling and following up before submitting personal information online, and avoiding opening attachments or clicking on links that appear suspicious.
6. Identity theft
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– Total loss in 2020: $219,484,699
– Total victims in 2020: 43,330Identity thieves steal personal information using various methods, including malware, social engineering, and phishing. Once they have this information, they take over the person’s identity and conduct malicious and fraudulent activities like applying for jobs, and opening credit cards and other accounts, in that person’s name.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, unemployment benefits were a target for identity thieves. There are several types of identity theft including tax, financial, medical, senior, employment, and even child. Protection comes with awareness, and there are several simple steps people can take to stay safe. Monitor your credit, use passwords that are not easy to guess and change them often, use security software on your computer, and use a digital wallet.
7. Non-payment and non-delivery scams
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– Total loss in 2020: $265,011,249
– Total victims in 2020: 108,869These cyberscams were the second most reported crime, according to the FBI’s IC3. Non-delivery occurs when paid-for items aren’t received. Non-payment occurs when items aren’t paid for even though they have been shipped.
Avoid getting caught in these types of scams by securing tracking numbers when ordering online, only buying from reputable websites that utilize the HTTPS encryption prefix, being cautious when purchasing merchandise from outside your country, using credit cards to pay for things online—and making sure to always check credit card statements. Experts suggest using extra caution online during the holidays.
8. Investment fraud
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– Total loss in 2020: $336,469,000
– Total victims in 2020: 8,788The illegal or purported sale of financial instruments is considered investment fraud, according to the FBI. Ponzi schemes, pyramid schemes, advance fee schemes, and market manipulation are all types of investment fraud. Scammers often target elderly people—particularly older men who take risks—because they tend to have pensions and other retirement plans, according to a research study by AARP. Affinity fraud is another type of investment scam that targets members of specific groups like ethnic or religious communities.
To protect yourself and your investments, do your research and only work with companies and professionals that are legitimate. When dealing with countries outside of the one you live in, be cautious, make sure to understand terms and conditions, and do not be afraid to ask questions.
9. Confidence fraud
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– Total loss in 2020: $600,249,821
– Total victims in 2020: 23,751Confidence fraud finds a scammer assuming an online identity to befriend someone or forge a personal connection. The scammer can gain the victim’s trust over months or years before attempting to access their bank account or other personal information, or ask them for money or gifts. One such scam involves an offer of free money. Elderly people are a common target for such scams, according to the FBI, who believe that this may be due to their trusting nature, their potential financial savings, and the fact they often don’t report the crime because they don’t know how to or they are ashamed.
Never give financial information to anyone you haven’t met face-to-face or whom you’ve only met online, and take the time to check out whether the person connecting with you is legitimate. One way to do this is by performing a reverse image search on photos.
10. Compromised email
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– Total loss in 2020: $1,866,642,107
– Total victims in 2020: 19,369Weak passwords, clicking on malicious links, or downloading a file or app you shouldn’t can lead to a compromised email—as can phishing scams or forgetting to log out on a shared computer. A hacked email also increases the risk for other types of fraud like credit card or bank account fraud or identity theft. Once your email is compromised, hackers can take over and log you out of your own email or use your email to send spam or other malicious content to your email contacts or to access accounts.
Criminals target both businesses and individuals in this type of scam, but there are several steps to prevent a compromised email. Make sure to log out of your email account everywhere, especially on public computers. Block phishing and spoofing attempts by typing a website’s URL instead of entering through an email link, use caution at public hotspots, and don’t log into email or other unsecured sites. Additionally, never open email attachments that appear suspicious or that are from people you do not know.
