Court Date Set for Suspect Charged in Death of Bedridden Mehlville Man

Tyrone Benedict, arrested and accused of the murder of a disabled Mehlville man found in his burning apartment, has a preliminary hearing scheduled for April 12 at 10:30 a.m., according to the Missouri courts' database. 

Benedict, 38, will be represented by Christine Taylor Goulet of the Office of the Public Defender. He was the caregiver of 40-year-old Mark J. Woods and faces first-degree murder charges. 

Mehlville firefighters found 40-year-old Woods Feb. 23, dead in his home at 140 Kinswood Lane after being called to the scene for a fire. Police and fire officials said Woods appeared to be deceased for some time before the fire.

According to a probable cause statement released by the St. Louis County Prosecutor’s Office, Woods had been stabbed, but the cause of death was smoke inhalation.

In the statement, John Bradley, a detective with the St. Louis County Police Department, said that Benedict at first had lied to police about his whereabouts. Bradley said Benedict eventually told police that the fire was in progress when he had arrived at Woods' home.

Benedict, who had burns on his back, buttocks and hands, told detectives he had tried to save Woods, but failed. He also told police that Woods, who was bedridden, was trying to sexually abuse him.