Ben Bertolucci was a freelance journalist and photographer who visited Raccoon City in 1998 and attempted to reveal how the "flesh-eating disease" (the t-virus) spread throughout the town. Despite the fact that he was quite ambitious and overly concerned about money, he was willing to risk danger to himself to expose injustice and was a very intelligent and capable man.
History
Initially, Ben visited Raccoon City due to his interest in the bizarre murders which were happening there from May 1998. During the t-virus outbreak in in September, he set out to discover the truth behind the incident and lost his briefcase, notebook, passport and expired commuter pass in the subway.
During his investigation, Ben presumably contacted Ada Wong and obtained information about the city's mayor (Michael Warren) from her. His search for answers took him to the R.P.D. where he managed to gather evidence about police chief Brian Irons was somehow involved, and later uncovered the chief's collusion with the Umbrella Corporation by making a copy of 'Mail to the Chief'. At some point, he was arrested after telling city officials about the incident and left behind 'Film B' in the media room. Afterwards, he refused to leave his cell though he stole the key from the prison guard, believing it to be a safe place from the creatures infesting the town.
On September 27, Ben offerred help to a group of survivors who had taken refuge in the police station and the document was finally returned to him by Alyssa Ashcroft. Two days later, he was confronted by Leon S. Kennedy and Ada Wong but refused to cooperate except for providing details on how to escape through the sewers. He was then attacked by the first form of 'G' and fatally wounded. In his final moment, he entrusted Leon with the document that exposed the Chief's injustices, including bribery cases involving William Birkin (unbeknownst to Ben), his murderer.