Woodstock Man Pleads Guilty In Stabbing Death Of Teen

WOODSTOCK, GA — A 19-year-old Woodstock man will serve 40 years in prison after pleading guilty in connection to the stabbing death of a 17-year-old whose body was found at a playground at a Cobb County apartment complex.

Dawson Lee Wagner on Friday, Feb. 1 entered guilty pleas to voluntary manslaughter, possession of a knife during commission of a felony, concealing a death and making a false statement stemming from the death of Naseer Benefield, 17, the Cobb County District Attorney's Office said.

The teen's body was found during the early hours of Nov. 20, 2017, at a playground at Sierra Forest Apartments at 6660 Mableton Parkway SE. Cobb police detectives were able to use phone records to tie Wagner to the crime, the District Attorney's Office added.

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“This was a senseless crime of overwhelming violence perpetrated by an individual who displayed an utter lack of remorse for the crimes he committed,” Senior ADA Jennifer Stevenson said. “We hope that this conviction brings some measure of closure to the family of Naseer Benefield, which has been devastated by this tragic loss.”

Wagner was sentenced by Assisting Superior Court Judge Henry Thompson to serve 40 years in prison. However, Wagner will receive credit for the time he's already serve, as he has been in custody at the Cobb County Detention Center since December 2017.

Wagner was represented by Atlanta attorneys Darryl Cohen and Johnna Lee, the DA's office added.

Photo: Dawson Lee Wagner. Credit: Cobb County Jail