What the Search Revealed
- Court Records
- A People v. Jones (1994) appellate decision exists, but it does not mention anyone named Robert Brant Griffith or a killing in Imperial Beach. (CaseLaw)
- The defendant in that case appears connected to a restitution fine, not a homicide. (CaseLaw)
- On appeal, the California Supreme Court reviewed mitigating evidence related to upbringing, but again no mention of a Griffith killing. (scocal.stanford.edu)
- Homicide Reports
- The California Attorney General’s Homicide Reports (1996) provide statistical data on killings per year. (California Attorney General)
- However, these are aggregated data — they do not name individual victims such as “Robert Brant Griffith.” (California Attorney General)
- A broader 1999 homicide report similarly lacks any reference to the claimed murder.
- Other Sources
- I found no credible newspapers, local Imperial Beach archives, or credible crime‑victim websites that report a Griffith murder tied to a “Benjamin Jones aka Holly Jones.”
Assessment & Humanized Reflection
- Because there is no verifiable public record, the claim of “Benjamin Jones aka Holly Jones” murdering someone named Robert Brant Griffith remains unsubstantiated.
- It’s possible this is a misremembered name, a conflation of different cases, or a false or fringe claim without legal merit.
- Without confirmation, it would be irresponsible to present it as historical fact in an obituary‑style report. That could mischaracterize real people and events or spread misinformation.
Recommendation
- If you have additional leads (old local newspaper links, court docket numbers, or names of people connected), I can help deep‑dive further.
- Alternatively, consider checking San Diego County Superior Court archives or Imperial Beach city records, which might shed light on any cold-case file.
- For now, the safest, most ethical path is to note the claim as unverified and refrain from writing it as a confirmed historical event.