Topline: The teen told detectives he had no regrets and claimed his 81-year-old roommate was “already dying.”
Published: May 21, 2025 8:00 am ET
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Moses Ojeda (via Polk County Sheriff's Office)
BARTOW, FL — An Florida teen is accused of stabbing his 81-year-old roommate more than 100 times, then nonchalantly staying in the home for about 12 hours until police arrived.
According to a news release issued by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, homicide detectives arrested 18-year-old Moses Ojeda on charges of first-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence for the killing of his roommate on Blue Bird Avenue in Bartow, Florida, on Sunday, May 18.
Police say the victim, 81 year-old Patrick Benway, was living in a group home managed by “ET Home Care, LLC” along with three other roommates. One of those roommates, Ojeda, had just moved in a day prior after being released from a local hospital.
Ojeda told detectives that he did not have any problems with the victim and described him as a good person.
During the investigation, Ojeda confirmed that he entered the victim’s bedroom where he was lying in bed and stabbed him multiple times.
The victim did not physically resist but did ask, according to Ojeda, “Why would you want to do this to me?” before dying.
Ojeda said he has no regrets and he wanted to kill him because he was “already dying,” according to police
Following the attack, Ojeda told deputies that he cleaned the knife used and put it back in the kitchen, then removed his blood-stained clothing and placed it in his laundry basket.
All of the evidence gathered by detectives was consistent with the suspect’s statements regarding his stabbing the victim, police said.
The suspect has no prior criminal record, authorities noted.
Sheriff Grady Judd added more detail of the murder during a press conference on Monday.
“I just heard voices that told me to kill him,” the suspect said in an interrogation, according to Sheriff Judd, who added the victim had been ultimately stabbed 113 times.
Sheriff Judd said the victim had been dead approximately 12 hours before he was discovered.
“[Ojeda] wakes up the next morning, after a good night’s sleep, after stabbing our victim to death,” Sheriff Judd explained. “He eats breakfast, he watches a little television. He hangs out and he is still there when 911 is dialed and [police] arrive.”
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Sheriff: Teen Stabbed Elderly Roommate 113 Times, Then Ate Breakfast
The teen told detectives he had no regrets and claimed his 81-year-old roommate was “already dying.”
By Jacob Charles
Published: May 21, 2025 8:00 am ET
Moses Ojeda (via Polk County Sheriff's Office)
BARTOW, FL — An Florida teen is accused of stabbing his 81-year-old roommate more than 100 times, then nonchalantly staying in the home for about 12 hours until police arrived.
According to a news release issued by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, homicide detectives arrested 18-year-old Moses Ojeda on charges of first-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence for the killing of his roommate on Blue Bird Avenue in Bartow, Florida, on Sunday, May 18.
Police say the victim, 81 year-old Patrick Benway, was living in a group home managed by “ET Home Care, LLC” along with three other roommates. One of those roommates, Ojeda, had just moved in a day prior after being released from a local hospital.
Ojeda told detectives that he did not have any problems with the victim and described him as a good person.
During the investigation, Ojeda confirmed that he entered the victim’s bedroom where he was lying in bed and stabbed him multiple times.
The victim did not physically resist but did ask, according to Ojeda, “Why would you want to do this to me?” before dying.
Ojeda said he has no regrets and he wanted to kill him because he was “already dying,” according to police
Following the attack, Ojeda told deputies that he cleaned the knife used and put it back in the kitchen, then removed his blood-stained clothing and placed it in his laundry basket.
All of the evidence gathered by detectives was consistent with the suspect’s statements regarding his stabbing the victim, police said.
The suspect has no prior criminal record, authorities noted.
Sheriff Grady Judd added more detail of the murder during a press conference on Monday.
“I just heard voices that told me to kill him,” the suspect said in an interrogation, according to Sheriff Judd, who added the victim had been ultimately stabbed 113 times.
Sheriff Judd said the victim had been dead approximately 12 hours before he was discovered.
“[Ojeda] wakes up the next morning, after a good night’s sleep, after stabbing our victim to death,” Sheriff Judd explained. “He eats breakfast, he watches a little television. He hangs out and he is still there when 911 is dialed and [police] arrive.”
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Sheriff: Teen Stabbed Elderly Roommate 113 Times, Then Ate Breakfast
The teen told detectives he had no regrets and claimed his 81-year-old roommate was “already dying.”
By Jacob Charles
Published: May 21, 2025 8:00 am ET
Moses Ojeda (via Polk County Sheriff's Office)
BARTOW, FL — An Florida teen is accused of stabbing his 81-year-old roommate more than 100 times, then nonchalantly staying in the home for about 12 hours until police arrived.
According to a news release issued by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, homicide detectives arrested 18-year-old Moses Ojeda on charges of first-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence for the killing of his roommate on Blue Bird Avenue in Bartow, Florida, on Sunday, May 18.
Police say the victim, 81 year-old Patrick Benway, was living in a group home managed by “ET Home Care, LLC” along with three other roommates. One of those roommates, Ojeda, had just moved in a day prior after being released from a local hospital.
Ojeda told detectives that he did not have any problems with the victim and described him as a good person.
During the investigation, Ojeda confirmed that he entered the victim’s bedroom where he was lying in bed and stabbed him multiple times.
The victim did not physically resist but did ask, according to Ojeda, “Why would you want to do this to me?” before dying.
Ojeda said he has no regrets and he wanted to kill him because he was “already dying,” according to police
Following the attack, Ojeda told deputies that he cleaned the knife used and put it back in the kitchen, then removed his blood-stained clothing and placed it in his laundry basket.
All of the evidence gathered by detectives was consistent with the suspect’s statements regarding his stabbing the victim, police said.
The suspect has no prior criminal record, authorities noted.
Sheriff Grady Judd added more detail of the murder during a press conference on Monday.
“I just heard voices that told me to kill him,” the suspect said in an interrogation, according to Sheriff Judd, who added the victim had been ultimately stabbed 113 times.
Sheriff Judd said the victim had been dead approximately 12 hours before he was discovered.
“[Ojeda] wakes up the next morning, after a good night’s sleep, after stabbing our victim to death,” Sheriff Judd explained. “He eats breakfast, he watches a little television. He hangs out and he is still there when 911 is dialed and [police] arrive.”
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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