Oct 6, 2008 11:33 pm US/Eastern
Evaluation Ordered For Worcester Stabbing Suspect
WORCESTER (WBZ) ―
A mentally ill Worcester man is now undergoing an evaluation at Bridgewater State hospital, after the brutal stabbing death of a 47-year-old woman inside an apartment on Lancaster St.
Police say 22-year-old Benjamin Makinen randomly chose the apartment, gaining access through an unsecured front door to the six-unit building.
He allegedly overpowered Shelleigh Wilcox, stabbing her several times during a brief struggle that began at the front door and ended in the living room.
Police say Makinen made a 911 call to police to report his own alleged crime, but did know the address he was calling from. An emergency dispatcher kept him on the line until the call could be traced and police could find his whereabouts.
When officers arrived they say Makinen was standing on a second floor landing, and inside the open apartment they could see the victim lying on the floor with multiple stab wounds.
The randomness of the attack has startled even veteran Worcester police officers. They say Makinen had been receiving mental health treatment for the last ten years, but was most recently staying with family members.
Adding to the tragedy, the victim did not live at the address, but was staying with a friend who was not home at the time.
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