Why did a Texas brother fatally stab his twin sister? | Forensic Files

This week on season on the season premiere of 48 hours, a Texas teenager is charged in the deadly stabbing of his
twin sister. At his trial, attorneys for the 17-year-old, his name is Benjamin Elliot. They said he was sleepwalking
when he killed her. But would a jury believe it? Here's an early look at Aaron Morardi's 48 hours report.
[Music] In the early morning hours of September 29th, 2021, Texas teenager Benjamin Elliot was on
his phone calling 911. >> County, no more. What's the location of your emergency?
>> I just killed my sister. Oh my god. >> Okay, tell me exactly what happened. >> I thought it was a dream. I I took my
wife and I stabbed her. I don't want her to die. >> How old is she? >> 17. We're twins.
>> We're going to have to start CPR right now. >> Where's your son? >> Okay. Okay. We got it. EMS is coming.
>> One, two, three. >> Arriving paramedics and police took control of the scene.
>> What happened, son? >> It was a dream. >> He said it was a dream. Honey, >> what the
>> Benjamin's parents could not imagine why their son would hurt his twin sister.
Even prosecutor Megan Long found no motive. >> Were you able to find any evidence that
there was a problem with these twins? >> No, we definitely looked into it and tried.
>> This is the first study that we did. >> Benjamin's attorneys asked Dr. Gerald
Simmons, a sleep disorder expert, to examine Benjamin. We have a video of him right here.
>> Oh, there he is. And got an answer. You are convinced this was a sleepwalking
incident? >> Yes. >> Prosecutors disagreed. >> I wouldn't say that it's impossible for
someone to commit a crime while sleepwalking. I just don't think that was the case with Benjamin Elliot.
>> Benjamin was charged with intentionally murdering his twin sister, Megan. >> What makes you so sure that you stabbed
your sister while you were sleepwalking? I would never have done that. I loved her. She was my best and closest friend.
>> This is so tragic and shocking. Erin Morardi joins us now. We have so many questions.
>> First, how common is sleepwalking and has that ever been used successfully as
a defense? >> Well, sleepwalking is far more common than I ever guess. It is actually a
sleep disorder. You could actually eat while you're sleeping, too. Um, and the prosecutor in this case was a
sleepwalker. Her children had actually been sleepwalkers. Some of the jurors had been sleepwalkers and new people.
So, it's very it's common. >> It's not so common to commit a crime while you're sleepwalking, but it has
been used successfully as a defense. There's one is hard to take super seriously. In the sunset, a man says he
he got in a car, he drove, attacked his his mother-in-law, >> killed her, and was acquitted by the
jury um because he successfully argued that he was sleepwalking at the time. >> My middle son, Nehemiah, who's now 19,
he would climb out of his top bunk, go down the little ladder, and walk all the way downstairs. So, it it it happened in
my family. I know sleepwalking is real. Yes. The >> question I have is, was there any
evidence of any type of tension between the brother and sister? >> That was the most troubling thing for
me. Now, I happen to be a twin and of course I can't imagine ever hurting my twin sister, but there was absolutely no
evidence. They spent all their time in the phones. There's no emails. There's no texts. Nobody came forward with any
evidence. So, it's just such a mystery and so puzzling. >> So tragic. >> All right, Aaron Morati, thank you so
much. I'll be watching this and you can watch Aaron's 48 hours report. The boy who killed his twin.

Benjamin Elliott, 17, was charged with fatally stabbing his twin sister, Meghan. At trial, his defense attorneys insisted he was sleepwalking when he killed her. Would a jury believe it? Erin Moriarty reports in the season premiere of "48 Hours."

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Brief Summary

Texas teen Benjamin Elliot claims sleepwalking defense in twin sister's murder trial, raising questions about motives and sleep disorders.

Key points

The Tragic Case of Benjamin Elliot. A Texas teenager is charged with the murder of his twin sister, claiming sleepwalking as a defense.
Sleepwalking Defense in Court. Experts discuss the rarity and implications of using sleepwalking as a legal defense.

Episode highlights

Episode quotes

I just killed my sister.

Benjamin Elliot's chilling 911 call after the incident.

0:35WatchSep 26, 2025

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