Nicholas Bendle
SANTA MARIA -- A man is under arrest, charged with murder for decapitating an elderly man with a hatchet.
Police responding to a possible hit-and-run Saturday morning found the partially decapitated body of 69 year old Frederick Holgate on a sidewalk.
The officers realized they were dealing with a homicide rather than a hit-and-run when they found a hatchet several feet away from Holgate's body.
Police 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 say they have no motive for the attack and there is no evidence that Bendie and Holgate knew each other.
Lt. Dan Ast says the hatchet had been stolen during a recent home burglary.
Copyright © 2009, KTLA-TV, Los Angeles
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