ROUND ROCK, Texas — A visit to an elderly family member ended in tragedy for a 62-year-old Texas engineer after he was allegedly attacked from behind while sitting alone on a park bench.
According to the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office, Andrew James Wimsatt was found dead at Chandler Creek Park shortly after 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 7.
Authorities said Wimsatt had visited his elderly mother at a nearby nursing home before going to the park.
What happened next was captured, at least in part, by surveillance cameras maintained by the Chandler Creek Homeowners Association, according to an arrest affidavit reported by the Austin American-Statesman.
Investigators believe Wimsatt and the man accused of killing him did not know each other, and authorities described the attack as a possible random act.
Police Say Attack Happened Minutes After Wimsatt Sat Down
According to the affidavit, Wimsatt had only been sitting on the park bench for a short time when he was allegedly grabbed from behind.
The suspect reportedly attacked him with a knife, stabbing him multiple times. Wimsatt attempted to defend himself, but investigators say he was unable to stop the assault. He eventually fell to the ground.
Authorities allege the attacker continued the assault before leaving the area. The suspect was later identified as Benedict Ogbodiegwu Jr., who was taken into custody and charged with murder.
The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office said preliminary evidence indicates that the two men were strangers.
“Based on preliminary evidence and information developed so far, investigators believe the attack was a random act and that the victim and suspect were not known to one another,” the sheriff’s office stated.
Surveillance Footage Helps Investigators Track Suspect
Investigators reportedly pieced together the suspect’s movements using multiple surveillance sources.
After the stabbing, Ogbodiegwu allegedly went to a nearby McDonald’s. Surveillance footage reportedly captured him there at 1:54 p.m. before he allegedly got into his vehicle and drove away.
Investigators then traced him to his home, which was located about a mile from Chandler Creek Park, according to the arrest affidavit.
Another surveillance camera reportedly captured a man believed to be Ogbodiegwu leaving his home at 10:22 a.m. and returning at approximately 11:05 a.m.
Those times became important to investigators because they placed the suspect’s movements around the period of the deadly attack.
When investigators later spoke with Ogbodiegwu, they reportedly showed him a photograph taken at the park.
According to the affidavit, he allegedly acknowledged that he was the person pictured but denied being at the park on the day Wimsatt was killed.
Suspect Allegedly Claimed He Had a Twin Brother
During questioning, Ogbodiegwu allegedly told investigators that he had a twin brother. However, according to the affidavit, he could not provide investigators with the brother’s name when asked.
Authorities also reportedly recovered a bloody 5½-inch knife during a search of Ogbodiegwu’s home.
The alleged discovery added another piece of evidence to the investigation as detectives worked to establish what happened at the park and connect the suspect to the killing.
Ogbodiegwu was subsequently taken into custody and faces a murder charge in connection with Wimsatt’s death. The allegations remain part of the criminal case, and the evidence will be evaluated through the legal process.
Wimsatt Remembered as Someone Who Helped Others
The killing has also drawn attention because of how Wimsatt was remembered by those who knew him and followed his work.
Talk show host Greg Gutfeld told that Wimsatt was a fan of his show and spoke emotionally about the circumstances surrounding his death.
“The crime, to me, is so heinous and shocking that I’m still trying to comprehend it,” Gutfeld said. “I may never.”
Gutfeld said he initially assumed there would be some obvious motive behind the killing but said he came to understand Wimsatt differently.
“At first, I was suspicious, because I always assume people do things because they want things,” he said. “I was wrong with Andrew. He did stuff for people — lots of people — because he enjoyed being of service, and promoting stuff that he genuinely enjoys and believes in.”
For investigators, the focus now remains on the evidence surrounding the deadly stabbing at Chandler Creek Park and the prosecution of the man accused in the case.
What do you think about this shocking case? Share your thoughts in the comments and tell us what you think investigators should focus on next.
