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    Son arrested in murder of Barry Bennett, national champion wrestler, coach, former NFL lineman

    A son of a three-time college wrestling champ who later became a high school mat coach -- with an NFL career in between -- has been arrested in the murder of his parents.

    Dylan Bennett, 22, was arrested at a hotel in Cancun, Mexico, by Mexican authorities for the murder of former NFL lineman Barry Bennett and his wife, Carol, both 63, who were found dead in their home last week in Long Prairie, Minnesota, a small town about two hours northwest of Minneapolis.

    Dylan's car was found at the crime scene. He allegedly took Carol Bennett's SUV and drove to Columbus, Ohio, where he booked a flight to Cancun.

    Authorities charged Dylan Bennett with two counts of second-degree murder without premeditation.

    Barry Bennett
    Born in December 1955 in Long Prairie, Minn., Barry Bennett was a Minnesota state wrestling champ in high school at South St. Paul. Upon graduation, Bennett headed west to Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn. where he was a major force in football and wrestling, winning two NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Association) along with an NCAA Division III mat title.

    "Barry Bennett is the greatest athlete ever to walk through these halls, the greatest Cobber we've ever had," Concordia College head football coach Terry Horan told the Star-Tribune.

    Horan also described Bennett as "the gentlest giant."

    Dennis Koslowski, a bronze and silver Olympic medalist in Greco-Roman wrestling, also shared his recollections of Barry Bennett the college wrestler.

    "He was three years older than me, and already a two-time NAIA champion by the time I was a freshman at Minnesota-Morris,'' Koslowski told the Minneapolis newspaper. "I was at the NCAA Division III meet in 1978 in Wheaton, Illinois, just traveling with our team, and I saw Barry win his third national title there.

    "He was in the final against a guy from Mount Union who was just a brick wall -- built beyond belief.'' (The Star-Tribune found the wrestler was named Ken Wilcox.)

    "I remember thinking, 'This is going to be a great match,''' Koslowski said. "And then Bennett went out there and folded him like an accordion. He was so strong and athletic."

    Bennett was drafted into the NFL right out of college. He was a defensive lineman for 11 seasons, from 1978 to 1988, with the New Orleans Saints, New York Jets and Minnesota Vikings.

    More recently, Bennett had served as a physical education teacher and wrestling coach at the Long Prairie-Grey Eagle school until retirement five years ago.

    A memorial service for Barry Bennett will be held 10:30 a.m. Thursday, August 29, 2019, at the Long Prairie-Grey Eagle High School Gymnasium.

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