Elderly Man Found Decapitated on Sidewalk
KTLA News
3:33 AM PDT, August 3, 2009
SANTA MARIA -- Police responding to a possible hit-and-run Saturday found the partially decapitated body of an elderly man on a sidewalk in Santa Maria.
The officers realized they were dealing with a homicide rather than a hit-and-run when they found the body of 69-year-old Frederick Holgate, along with an axe several feet away.
Police have arrested 20-year-old Nicholas Bendle in connection with the killing. Bendle's mother apparently called police and said her son was covered in blood.
Resident David Drazdik said he came across Holgate's body moments before police arrived. He saw Holgate on the sidewalk and went to help him, but discovered that his head had been severed off on the right-hand side.
Investigators were trying to determine a motive in the attack.
Santa Maria is about 130 miles northwest of Los Angeles