BARTOW, Fla. – Polk County Sheriff’s Office homicide detectives have apprehended 18-year-old Moses Ojeda in connection with the murder of his 81-year-old roommate, Patrick Benway. The incident occurred on Sunday, May 18th, at a group home located on Blue Bird Avenue in Bartow.
The victim, Patrick Benway, resided at the group home managed by “ET Home Care, LLC” along with three other individuals. Ojeda, one of the roommates, had only moved into the residence the day before his arrest, following his release from a local hospital.
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According to detectives, Ojeda admitted to entering Benway’s bedroom where the elderly man was lying in bed and repeatedly stabbing him.
Ojeda stated that Benway did not physically resist the attack but asked in his final moments, “Why would you want to do this to me?” before succumbing to his injuries.
In a chilling detail, Ojeda reportedly told investigators that he had no regrets and wanted to kill Benway because he was “already dying.”
Following the crime, Ojeda informed deputies that he had cleaned the knife used in the attack and returned it to the kitchen. He then allegedly removed his blood-stained clothing and placed it in his laundry basket. Authorities confirmed that the evidence collected at the scene aligned with Ojeda’s account of the stabbing.
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“This was a senseless and tragic act of violence,” said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. “Our detectives, forensic investigators, and Bartow Police Department officers worked diligently to take Ojeda into custody and gather evidence to hold him accountable.”
Authorities have confirmed that Ojeda has no prior criminal record. He has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence. The investigation into this disturbing crime is ongoing.
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