A Texas engineer who had become known to several Fox News personalities was fatally stabbed from behind while sitting on a park bench in Round Rock, Texas, in what investigators say appeared to be an unprovoked attack. Authorities have since taken into custody a repeat offender who had spent months in the county jail earlier this year.
Andrew James Wimsatt, 62, of Austin, was killed on Sept. 7 shortly after stopping at the park following a visit with his mother at a nearby nursing home, officials said.
The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office said deputies arrested 26-year-old local resident Benedict Chinedu Ogbodiegwu, who now faces murder and theft charges.
Andrew Wimsatt pictured in a selfie last year after receiving a package from Fox News contributor Kat Timpf. (Courtesy of Kat Timpf)
Investigators said the deadly encounter was captured on surveillance footage, providing key evidence in the Round Rock park stabbing case.
According to authorities, a man identified as Wimsatt sat down on a bench at about 11 a.m. Minutes later, another man, alleged to be Ogbodiegwu, approached from behind, grabbed him and stabbed him multiple times in the neck.
A probable cause affidavit obtained by Fox 7 Austin says Wimsatt fought back but could not break free as the attack continued. The suspect then appeared to wipe blood onto his shirt before leaving the camera’s view.
The suspect, identified by the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office as Benedict Ogbodiegwu, 26, is seen in surveillance footage near the scene. He is being held on a $1 million bond. (Williamson County Sheriff’s Office)
Wimsatt held a Ph.D. in civil engineering and worked with the Texas A&M Transportation Institute. His interests stretched beyond engineering: IMDB lists him as an executive producer on Penn Jillette’s horror-comedy “Director’s Cut,” and his Instagram account featured wildlife photography, old storefronts and urban scenery.
He was also familiar to a number of Fox News figures, who described him as a warm and consistently positive presence online and in person.
After news of the arrest, Greg Gutfeld remembered Wimsatt on X as someone who seemed incapable of leaving negativity on social media, saying he was relentlessly supportive and usually found a constructive way to engage when he disagreed.
Kat Timpf described Wimsatt as a fan who became a genuine friend, not only to her but to her family as well. She said they had lunch together in Fort Worth in June and that she had expected to see him again at a Nevada show later this month.
Andrew Wimsatt, 62, had a Ph.D. in civil engineering and worked for the Texas A&M Transportation Institute. (Texas A&M Transportation Institute)
“He was so kind and generous it almost seems impossible,” she told News Outlet Friday. “He always supported me… whether that was sending me clips I wanted to post or offering truly helpful words of encouragement during the times throughout my career that the internet was piling on me.”
They spoke regularly — one a week or more for years — and he became known for sending TV clips to members of the “Gutfeld!” cast.
“Whenever the rest of the internet was making 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’s out there, too,” Timpf said.
Wimsatt attended Tyrus’ standup shows as well.
“[He] took care of his mother… always positive… he was kind man, 62 years old fragile looking but had a monster laugh,” Tyrus said in a statement. “I was honored to know him I was honored he cared so much and 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, and paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene, according to authorities.
Investigators were able to retrace the suspect’s steps and allegedly recovered prints and other evidence, including bloody clothes and the suspected murder weapon, according to the affidavit. When confronted with video evidence, Ogbodiegwu allegedly claimed he had a twin brother but could not provide his name.
Booking photos of Benedict Ogbodiegwu from his arrest on Sept. 7 in connection with the murder of 62-year-old civil engineer Andrew Wimsatt. He is being held on $1 million bond in what authorities have described as a random attack. (Williamson County Sheriff’s Office)
Ogbodiegwu has a criminal record in Williamson County going back to at least 2017, when he was charged with stealing. He had two prior arrests this year, on charges involving theft and carrying fake identification.
Prior to his arrest in connection with Wimsatt’s murder, he was most recently released from the county jail on June 9. He had also been incarcerated between January and April.
He’s being held on $1 million bond. His next court date is on Oct. 8 at 1:30 p.m., for a pre-indictment docket call.
