How Kirkstall shootings victim Benny Ray’s previous wives also died suddenly

The former wives of an “innocent” man killed in the crossfire of a savage shooting in Victoria’s southwest had previously been found dead in tragic circumstances.

The “innocent” man killed in the crossfire of a savage shooting that ended in two murders and a suicide in Victoria’s southwest had two previous wives who were found dead in tragic and sudden circumstances.

Benjamin “Benny” Ray, 48, can be revealed as the third person who died in the horror double-murder suicide in Kirkstall on Friday after Travis Cashmore became enraged at notorious criminal Kevin Knowles over what locals believe was a drug-related feud.

Cashmore blasted father-of-three Benny, along with Knowles, with a shotgun on Scotts North Rd about 10am while the pair was walking to the shops.

He later turned the gun on himself at a property just 2km away while a massive manhunt was under way after the two bodies were discovered on the side of the road.

Benjamin ‘Benny’ Ray was killed in a double murder-suicide in Kirkstall.

In an exclusive interview with the Herald Sun, Benny’s father, Paul, has revealed that his son suffered from epilepsy and depression and had lost two of his wives in tragic circumstances.

Paul said that his son married a girl he went to school with and the pair had three children together.

But she was found dead on the couch in the mid 2000s.

Paul said her cause of death was a “salt deficiency”.

“The youngest daughter came home and found her dead on the couch, which stressed (Benny) out badly for a long time,” Paul said.

He said that Benny’s kids were then taken into the care of his deceased wife’s brother, before he met another girl “on the internet”.

She, too, was later found dead, this time on the floor, several years ago.

“She wasn’t quite right, so Benny looked after her,” Paul said.

“He was having a shower, he came out, and she was dead on the floor.”

Travis Cashmore became enraged at Kevin Knowles over what locals believe was a drug-related feud. Picture: Facebook

Paul said that his son met Knowles sometime after his second wife died.

He said he was sceptical of known-criminal Knowles, telling his son to “be careful”.

Benny was living across the state in Morwell with his mother, who also suffers from mental health-related issues, including schizophrenia, Paul said.

But he returned back to the Koroit-Kirkstall area intermittently and was back in town on Wednesday, staying at his father’s house before making the fateful decision to catch up with Knowles.

The home where Kevin Knowles lived. Picture: Owen Leonard

Benny went out to see Knowles on Friday morning, but Paul was unaware of the pair’s plans.

Hours later, he heard the news on the radio.

“I was laying down in bed and it came over the ABC radio,” he said.

“As soon as they said Kirkstall, and a bloke called Kevin, I put two and two together and knew Benny was dead.”

Mr Ray said Benny had recently bought a property in NSW but was yet move in.

He suspects his son simply got caught up in the Kirkstall crossfire.

Travis Cashmore was found dead at this property in Chamberlain St, Kirkstall. Picture: Owen Leonard

“Benny just went up there and this kerfuffle happened,” Mr Ray said.

“I always said that Kevin was a loose cannon.”

Mr Ray said Benny did not take drugs despite Knowles being a known ice user.

“He was just a good soul and he was softly spoken,” he said.

“Benny boy, I’m going to miss you with all my heart. Love, Dad.”

A local familiar with the situation said Knowles met Benny at a bus stop, felt sorry for him and took him under his wing “at least two years” ago.

Knowles often took Benny to the gym, the Herald Sun was told, encouraging him to eat well and lose weight.