Man allegedly stabbed father 20 times in daytime murder at park: “He’s killing me”
By Mike Toole, Brandon Truitt, Mike Sullivan, Kristina Rex
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WELLESLEY, Massachusetts (WBZ) — A young man accused of stabbing his father 20 times and killing him at a Wellesley, Massachusetts park was ordered held without bail Friday.
James Floyd Bennett III, 24, of Wellesley, pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder at his arraignment in Dedham District Court as horrific details in the case were revealed.
Bennett went to Phillips Park on Maugus Avenue with his father, 58-year-old Jamey Bennett, shortly before 6 p.m. Thursday. Witnesses told police the two were playing soccer and talking about the World Cup when Bennett suddenly attacked his father with a knife.
“A witness heard the victim screaming for help. He screamed, ‘He’s stabbing me. He’s killing me,'” prosecutor Anne Yas told the court.
Three people called 911. Officers found the father bleeding profusely in the head and said he had trouble speaking.
“When the officer asked him who stabbed him, he said, ‘My son,’ before he lost consciousness,” Yas said.
Bennett was rushed to Newton-Wellesley Hospital where he died.
“Doctors told the troopers that there were approximately 20 stab wounds. The stab wounds were to the face, the back of the neck, the leg and significantly in the stomach, but probably most significantly, the victim’s arm was almost cut through, almost severed,” Yas told the court.
The son ran to the home where he lived with his mother, showered, changed clothes and put the knife in a bag, according to the prosecutor.
“He said he also took a picture of himself when he was bloody on his cell phone,” Yas said.
Bennett then walked to the police station and admitted to the stabbing at the park, the prosecutor said. Yas said Bennett told officers he left the bloody clothes and the knife in a bag at his home.
She did not mention a motive in court. Bennett’s attorney Bill Crowe said his client has a “significant mental health history.”
“The family has asked me for a little respect of their privacy at this point. Obviously, they’re going through a very tragic event. They’ve lost two family members. The family loves the fellow that was just charged in there, James III, also known as Tripp. They’re fully supportive of him. They feel terrible about what’s happened, and they will be continuing to support him,” Crowe told reporters outside court. “There will be more to be said at a later time.”
According to court records, Bennett’s parents divorced back in 2016. They had four children together.
The next hearing in the case was scheduled for July 10.
Crime scene tape surrounded the playground and picnic tables Thursday evening as police combed through the mulch and grass. There were bloody cloths and sheets near a slide.
People who live in the neighborhood were stunned this could happen at a popular playground.
“It’s very unusual. Very unusual,” said Christine Myer, who lives nearby and said police came to ask her questions.
“It’s usually all the kids, you know the kids play at the playground and they will have after school events and it’s lovely to walk and it’s a treasured part of the community for sure,” Myer said.
Wellesley, Massachusetts is 14 miles west of Boston.
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