Prosecutors said James Floyd Bennett III attacked his father during a soccer outing at Phillips Park.
WELLESLEY, MA — A Wellesley man pleaded not guilty Friday to first-degree murder after prosecutors said he stabbed his father about 20 times during a Thursday evening visit to Phillips Park.
James Floyd Bennett III, 24, was ordered held without bail after his arraignment in Dedham District Court. The case has shaken a quiet neighborhood park used by families, children and walkers near Maugus Avenue. Prosecutors said the victim, 58-year-old James Floyd Bennett Jr., died at Newton-Wellesley Hospital after police and medics found him bleeding near playground equipment.
Authorities said the father and son went to Phillips Park shortly before 6 p.m. Thursday. Prosecutors said they had been playing soccer and talking about the World Cup before the attack began. Norfolk Assistant District Attorney Anne Yas said in court that a witness heard the elder Bennett scream for help. “He screamed, ‘He’s stabbing me. He’s killing me,’” Yas said. Police said three 911 calls came from people in the area. Officers arrived and found the victim on the ground, bleeding heavily and struggling to speak. When an officer asked who stabbed him, prosecutors said, the man answered, “My son,” before losing consciousness.
Doctors later told investigators that Bennett Jr. had about 20 stab wounds, including wounds to his face, back, neck, leg and stomach, prosecutors said. Yas said one arm was nearly severed. The victim was taken by emergency crews to Newton-Wellesley Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Prosecutors did not describe a motive in court. They said Bennett III ran from the park after the stabbing and returned to the home where he lived with his mother. Investigators said he showered, changed clothes, placed the knife and clothing in a bag, and took a photo of himself while covered in blood before walking to the Wellesley Police Department and turning himself in.
Defense attorney William Crowe said Bennett III, also known as Trip, has a “significant mental health history” that would need to be examined as the case moves forward. Crowe did not contest the prosecution request to hold Bennett without bail. Speaking outside court, Crowe said the family was grieving both the death of Bennett Jr. and the arrest of Bennett III. He said relatives loved the man charged in the killing and were continuing to support him. Several family members attended the arraignment but did not speak with reporters. Court officials also were asked to determine whether Bennett III qualifies for a court-appointed lawyer after Crowe said he had been hired only for the arraignment.
Phillips Park is a neighborhood recreation area off Maugus Avenue, near Washington Street and Route 16. It includes a playground, open space, walking areas and nearby homes. Residents described it as a familiar place where children play after school and families gather. Police closed the park for hours Thursday night while investigators worked around the playground and nearby grass. Crime scene tape surrounded parts of the area, including playground equipment and picnic tables. Local residents said the killing was deeply unusual for the neighborhood. One nearby resident, Christine Myer, said police came to ask questions after the attack. “It’s usually all the kids,” Myer said, describing the park as a treasured part of the community.
The Norfolk district attorney’s office said there was no continuing threat to the public after Bennett III was taken into custody. The investigation is being handled by Wellesley police, Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to the district attorney’s office and prosecutors. A police report in the case was impounded at the request of the district attorney’s office, limiting the public release of some investigative details. Prosecutors have not said whether investigators recovered the knife or clothing described in court, though they told the judge Bennett III directed police to a bag at his home. The victim’s death is being treated as a homicide, and the murder charge remains an allegation unless proven in court.
Bennett III’s next court date is scheduled for July 10 for a probable cause hearing. He is not expected to be required to appear in person for that hearing. Prosecutors are expected to continue presenting evidence from witness statements, emergency calls, medical findings and police interviews as the case moves through Dedham District Court. Defense lawyers are expected to review Bennett III’s mental health history and the facts surrounding his surrender. No trial date has been set. The court also has not announced whether the case will be presented to a grand jury, a step often used in Massachusetts murder prosecutions.
By Friday night, the park had become the center of grief in a town more often known for quiet streets, schools and commuter life west of Boston. The attack left residents trying to understand how a normal evening at a public playground turned deadly in minutes. Police and prosecutors have released only parts of the timeline, and several questions remain unanswered, including what led to the attack and whether there were warning signs before the father and son arrived at the park.
The case now stands with Bennett III held without bail on a first-degree murder charge. The next scheduled milestone is the July 10 probable cause hearing in Dedham District Court.
Author note: Last updated June 27, 2026.