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Cause Of Death Revealed For Delaware County Woman Found In Bathtub

SECANE, Pa. (CBS) -- Upper Darby Township police revealed disturbing details in the murder of a Delaware County woman.

A friend found Markia Benson's body in her Secane apartment Wednesday afternoon, after she didn't show up for work.

Finding who did this is so important, there are eight detectives assigned to the case. But Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood said this vicious crime was no random act.

On Friday, officials released the cause of death in this case, revealing that Benson died from "blunt and sharp force head and neck injuries complicated by immersion and extensive scald burns," according to the Delaware County Medical Examiner.

"It was a very, very senseless, sadistic murder," Chitwood said.

He described a gruesome scene left at Benson's apartment in the New Orleans Apartments.

"The apartment itself was in total disarray," Chitwood said. "Blood on the walls, feces on the floor, some writing on the walls."

Chitwood said Benson was beaten, stabbed several times in the head and face and was possibly strangled.

Benson's nude body was in the bathtub with the shower running. Chitwood said no signs of forced entry and a locked front door indicate Benson knew her killer.

"This was a very, very violent scene," he said. "It was a senseless killing. This guy meant to hurt her, meant to embarrass her, meant to harm her and he did."

Superintendent Chitwood is asking anyone with information to call police.

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