Frederick Holgate News Today

Man responsible for 2009 murder in Santa Maria to be released after completing mental health programs and last updated 2020-12-17 00:16:56-05 A Santa Maria man who was found to be legally insane when he killed a stranger with a hatchet 11 years ago is being released into the community after a judge ruled that he is no longer a danger to others. On August 1, 2009, 69-year-old Frederick Holgate was out for an early morning walk when Nicholas Bendle, who was 20 at the time, attacked him. A court f...

By Janene Scully, Noozhawk North County Editor | @JaneneScully December 16, 2020 | 3:37 p.m. A Santa Barbara County Superior Court judge has granted a petition for restoration of sanity and freedom from supervision for a man who partially decapitated a Santa Maria resident on an early morning walk in 2009. Nicholas Bendle, 31, who now lives in Northern California, filed a petition a year ago seeking to be restored to sanity and released from the outpatient supervision in place since he ...

Todd Tuggle appointed as fire chief following Champion retirement Todd Tuggle has been appointed to serve as Santa Marias interim fire chief, filling the role Leonard Champion will leave upon his retirement Thursday. City Manager Jason Stilwell made the appointment that will take effect Saturday, according to city spokesman Mark van de Kamp.  Joining the Santa Maria Fire Department in February as the citys first deputy fire chief in 10 years, Tuggle previously served 17 years in the Fr...