An 18-year-old man has been charged with the murder of his 81-year-old group home roommate in Central Florida.
Homicide detectives from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested Moses Ojeda, 18, for the murder of his roommate on Blue Bird Avenue in Bartow earlier this month.
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Patrick Benway, 81, lived in a group home maintained by “ET Home Care, LLC” with three other roommates. Ojeda, one of those housemates, had just moved in the day before, following his release from a local hospital. Ojeda informed detectives that he had no concerns with the victim and considered him a good person.
During the investigation, Ojeda admitted that he entered the victim’s bedroom while he was lying in bed and stabbed him several times. According to Ojeda, the victim did not physically resist but did ask, “Why would you want to do this to me?” before dying from his injuries.
According to law authorities, Ojeda said he had no regrets and wanted to murder him because he was “already dying.”
Following the incident, Ojeda informed authorities that he washed the used knife and returned it to the kitchen before removing his blood-stained clothing and placing it in his washing basket.
All of the evidence acquired by police supported the suspect’s assertions about stabbing the victim.
“This was a senseless and tragic act of violence,” Sheriff Grady Judd stated. “Our detectives, forensic investigators, and Bartow Police Department officers worked diligently to take Ojeda into custody and gather evidence to hold him accountable.”
The suspect has no previous criminal history. According to local authorities, he was detained and charged with first-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence.
