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SANTA MARIA TIMES SANTA MARIA, CALIFORNIA !  PHOTO: Dawn Holgate, right, and family friend Glenda Kern, left, cry while talking about Dawn’s father, Frederick Holgate, who was killed Saturday morning while taking a walk on South Miller Street. //Mark Brown/Staff Dawn Holgate’s 21st birthday was Tuesday, and she had planned to celebrate by going with her father to Disneyland.
His birthday was this coming Friday, and he had never been to the amusement park before.
But rather than a celebration at the Happiest Place on Earth, Dawn Holgate spent her milestone birthday at home, grieving over the loss of her father, Frederick Holgate, who was brutally killed over the weekend.
She shed tears along with other family members and friends, who shared memories of a selfless and positive family man, always trying to help out others.
Holgate, 69, was found dead around 5:30 a.m. Saturday on a sidewalk in the 1300 block of South Miller Street. He was nearly decapitated, according to Santa Maria police.
Investigators originally said that Holgate was killed by an ax, but have since said the weapon was a hatchet, which was found nearby.
A phone call about two hours later led officers to the Santa Maria home of 20-year-old Nicholas Bendle, who returned home covered in blood hours after having been reported missing, according to police. Bendle was arrested on suspicion of murdering Holgate.
Family friend Marichu Kern said Tuesday that she worried for Holgate’s safety while he was out on his daily walks. He made the treks despite health problems, and was out on one of those excursions when he was killed.
“He had to walk, because God gave him a chance to walk again,” Kern said.
Bendle made his first court appearance in the case Tuesday morning. A 2007 graduate of St. Joseph High School, where he was a multi-sport athlete, he wore a jail-issued orange jumpsuit and was slow to respond to questions from Commissioner John McGregor.
Bendle’s arraignment was postponed to Aug. 18, and he did not enter a plea.
The District Attorney’s Office has filed a murder charge against Bendle, as well as a special allegation that a weapon was used in the killing.
Bendle was being held without bail in Santa Barbara County Jail.
Assistant Public Defender Jim Voysey, who represented Bendle in court Tuesday, said that he asked that the case be pushed back to allow for time to do investigation.
Voysey said Bendle has some “psychological problems,” but did not elaborate.
“It’s way too soon to do that,” he said.
Santa Maria police Lt. Dan Ast said Tuesday that police would not comment on a possible motive for the slaying, adding that the department usually does not discuss confessions or other information obtained by talking with suspects.
Issues including whether Bendle suffers from mental illness or was on drugs at the time he allegedly killed Holgate are being explored, Ast said. Blood and urine samples were taken from the suspect, Ast said, but have not yet undergone testing.
Bendle is also the suspect in a residential burglary, Ast said, as he allegedly broke into the home of someone he knows to take the hatchet allegedly used in the slaying.
Both Dawn Holgate and her boyfriend, Paul Hertfelder, graduated along with Bendle with the class of 2007 at St. Joseph High School.
Holgate said she did not know Bendle well, and that the defendant did not know her father at all.
Hertfelder was better acquainted with Bendle.
“I guess on the outside, he seemed like a good guy,” he said.
Hertfelder said everyone is shocked at the news of Bendle’s arrest on murder charges.
“It was just hard to hear it was someone I knew,” he added.
Dawn Holgate, her mother, Ness Holgate, and friends gathered at the Holgate residence Tuesday, talking and sometimes crying as they exchanged recollections among a sea of flowers that had been sent in condolence.
“He was just happy to see everyone else around him happy,” Dawn said of her father, who had been forced to stop working as a truck driver years ago because of an injury.
The family had lived in Santa Maria since 2005, but Frederick and Ness had lived in the area previously, Dawn said.
“He was so trusting of everyone in this town,” Dawn said.
Her father frequently used the phrase, “just like you — sweet, kind and lovable,” she said.
Dawn said she can’t be mad about the death of her father, but she doesn’t understand why it happened.
“It’s not that confusing. It’s just wrong and it’s evil,” she said.
Ness said the assailant doesn’t know what was taken from the Holgate family. They can’t afford rent without Frederick, she said.
“It’s a great loss to me,” she added.
Neighbor Guillermo Chacon said Holgate was “very special,” and was encouraging to him.
Chacon said he doesn’t care what issues Bendle was dealing with, he wants justice.
Visitation for Holgate is scheduled from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Magner-Maloney Funeral Home, 600 E. Stowell Road. A rosary will follow.
A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. Monday at St. Mary of the Assumption Church, 600 E. Church St.
Donations to the Holgate family can be made at the Wells Fargo bank on Broadway, account number:1993317625.
KSBY-TV SANTA MARIA, CALIFORNIA
WATCHVIDEOREPORTHERE The 20-year-old accused of murdering a man by decapitating him appears in court. Police arrested Nicholas Bendle in connection with the death of Frederick Holgate on Saturday. Investigators say Holgate was decapitated with an axe, which was found several feet away. Bendle is being held with no bail on murder charges, with a special allegation of using a deadly weapon. Deputies escorted Bendle into the courtroom Tuesday, around noon. He did not enter a plea during this initial appearance. Tuesday was the first time Bendle has been seen publicly since his arrest Saturday. The St. Joseph's High School graduate appeared quiet, his eyes darting back and forth. He was oftentimes slow in his response to Commissioner John McGregor. "Without talking about your case, do you understand what you're charged with?" Commissioner McGregor asked. It is a standard question asked of anyone arrested with a crime. It took Bendle about seven seconds before he answered "Yes." Bendle is accused of murdering 69-year-old Frederick Holgate, a husband of 21 years and a father of another St. Joseph's graduate. "We continued the matter for two weeks so I can do some investigation, take a look at the case, and spend more time with him," said Jim Voysey, Assistant Public Defender. Questions continue to surround Bendle's mental state. Police say their preliminary investigation shows that drugs or alcohol did not play a role. More tests still need to be done, according to Lt. Dan Ast with the Santa Maria Police Department. "I don't think it's any mystery there's some psychological problems that are evident by his behavior, and that's what I'm looking at right now," Voysey said. Lynn Cutler, the senior deputy district attorney on the case, says this murder is "unusual," but would not comment about Bendle's mindset during the crime. "We'll let [the defense] raise it," Cutler said. For now, both sides will be preparing until Bendle's next appearance later this month. "I can assure you whenever he's ready to go, we'll be there to provide him his day in court," Cutler said. Police have not yet released an official motive for the murder. Friends who contacted KSBY News speculate Bendle was distraught over the death of close friend Eric Okerblom. Okerblom, another St. Joseph's graduate, died last week after a bike accident. Bendle's next court date is August 18.
KCOY-TV SANTA MARIA, CA  | Nick Bendle
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20 year old Nick Bendle looked to be aware of what was happening as Judge John McGregor told him what he's being charged with. But Bendle appeared confused when the judge asked him to respond. "Sir you're here today charged in a felony complaint of murder with the special allegation of use of a deadly weapon", Judge McGregor said, "without talking about your case do you understand what you're charged with?" "Yes", Bendle replied several seconds later. Bendle did not enter a plea to the murder charge against him and his arraignment was put off to August 18. He'll remain in county jail with no bail allowed. "We continued the matter for two weeks while I can do some investigation", said Assistant County Public Defender Jim Voysee after the short proceeding, "take a look at the case and spend more time with him to find out what's going on. I don't think its any mystery there's some psychological problems that are evident by his behavior and that's what I'm looking at right now." Nick Bendle is accused of using a hatchet to nearly decapitate 69 year old Fred Holgate who was taking a routine walk near his home early last Saturday morning. Police believe it was a random encounter between Bendle and Holgate near the intersection of Stowell Road and Miller Street and that the hatchet used in the attack was stolen from a nearby home. Santa Maria police say they have a blood sample from Nick Bendle taken after he was arrested on Saturday. Police say at some point the sample will be used to determine if Bendle was under the influence of drugs and or alcohol at the time of the alleged crime that's left his friends and co-workers in total disbelief. "Just shock because its not the nick we knew", says Dan Pankratz who employed Bendle at his local surf and skate shop, "he was an assistant manager, skate team manager, great guy, everyone loved him he was getting ready to move on to Cal Poly and Friday was he last day at work." Others friends say Bendle had been feeling depressed in the days leading up to his arrest on Saturday. Meantime flowers from across the country keep arriving at Fred Holgate's home where family members are busy organizing his funeral next Monday. Holgate's wife wants everyone to know how much the retired truck driver from New Jersey cared about helping others and volunteering his time in the community. Fred Holgate's funeral mass is set for next Monday at 9:30am at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Santa Maria. A reception will follow in the church hall. The public is welcome to attend
SANTA MARIA TIMES SANTA MARIA, CALIF. 
Dawn Holgate, right, and family friend Glenda Kern, left, cry while talking about Dawn's father, murder-victim Frederick Holgate. Family and friends of homicide victim Frederick Holgate gathered today among a sea of flowers at his Santa Maria home to share memories, tears and a few smiles.
Holgate’s daughter Dawn, his wife Ness, and others lamented the loss of a man they described as positive and selfless.
“He was just happy to see everyone else around him happy,” said Dawn, who turned 21 today.
Holgate, 69, was found dead Saturday morning on a sidewalk in the 1300 block of South Miller Street. Police say he was out on his usual morning walk when he was attacked with a hatchet and nearly decapitated.
Nicholas Bendle, 20, of Santa Maria has been arrested on suspicion of murdering Holgate. He made his first appearance in court this morning, and remains in County Jail in lieu of $1 million bail.
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