Maine news, sports, weather from Waterville Morning Sentinel

Suspect in UMF student’s death due for court

Morning Sentinel Staff

PORTLAND — A 20-year-old Gray man is expected to make his first court appearance today  in connection to an early morning attack Sunday on a University of Maine at Farmington student, who later died.
William Googins turned himself in to police Monday afternoon and now faces a charge of aggravated assault. He is being held at Cumberland County Jail on a $50,000 cash bail.
Eric Benson, 24, of Westbrook, had been out with friends Saturday evening; they had just split up. He and a woman who worked with him were walking through Monument Square shortly before 1:30 a.m. when they encountered Googins and two friends who had been drinking at several bars in the Old Port, police said.
The men directed derogatory comments at the woman, which made her feel threatened, police said, and after a brief exchange between the two parties, Googins punched Benson.
No weapon was used, but police say the single punch knocked Benson unconscious and he fell on the brick plaza.
The woman screamed, and, as witnesses responded, the men ran. When police arrived, witnesses were talking to emergency dispatchers and doing CPR. Benson was taken to Maine Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead shortly before noon Sunday.
The investigation, which included canvassing businesses for surveillance pictures and video, led police to identify Googins and his companions. The two friends were cooperative and were not charged, police said.
When Googins learned that police were looking for him, he turned himself in at the station at 4 p.m. Monday, accompanied by family members.
“We believe this is a completely random attack,” Assistant Police Chief Michael Sauschuck said at a news conference Monday. “Googins is not talking, so we can’t pin a motive to this.”
Googins has a long juvenile record, including arrests for assault, authorities said.
The district attorney will review the case to determine whether more serious charges than aggravated assault should be brought, Sauschuck said.
Benson was creating his own major in geology and chemistry at the University of Maine at Farmington. He would have graduated in December.
He and his twin brother, Andrew, were in Westbrook High School’s marching band before graduating in 2005.
Eric Benson played the baritone saxophone and was a member of the squad that performed at the Fiesta Bowl in Arizona in 2003.
Benson, a car and racing enthusiast, helped start Maine’s Subaru fan club, Maine Subies, and was overhauling his prized 1993 Subaru Legacy SS.
Services for Benson are planned for Saturday in Westbrook at the Parish of St. Anthony of Padua.
Viewing will be at 10 a.m., with funeral services to follow at noon.

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William Googins

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