Car Bomb Kills Tobacco Heiress, Tennis Pro Son

NAPLES, Fla. — The heiress to a $400-million tobacco fortune and her tennis pro son were killed and her daughter was injured in a car-bomb blast that sent debris rocketing 200 feet through an exclusive neighborhood, police said.

The explosion Tuesday killed Margaret H. Benson, 63, of Naples, and Scott R. Benson, 21, of Lancaster, Pa., in Mrs. Benson’s Chevrolet Suburban outside her Quail Creek home, Collier County Sheriff’s Lt. Eric Daniels said.

The blast, which also injured Carol Lynn Benson, 40, of Boston was caused by a bomb, but authorities said they have not determined the type of explosives involved and have no suspects.

Mrs. Benson was the widow of Lancaster Leaf Tobacco Co. Chairman Edward H. Benson. She and her children shared the $400-million estate left by Benson, who also served on the boards of other tobacco companies.

Steven Wayne Benson, 33, of Fort Myers, who was visiting his mother Tuesday, and his wife, Debbie, were in protective custody today in a Naples hotel.

Neighbors reported hearing two explosions and police said debris rocketed 200 feet onto a golf course, where two unidentified golfers were slightly injured.

Carol Benson was in serious condition at Naples Community Hospital with second- and third-degree burns on her face and shoulders. She was to be flown to Boston’s Massachusetts General Hospital burn center today.

Steven Benson and his mother had maintained an office in her house. Last year, they founded Meridian Security Network Inc., which installed burglar alarms and security systems in the affluent neighborhood where a private guard checks all incoming cars at a gate.