Wellesley Man Held Without Bail in Father's Fatal Stabbing at Phillips Park

DATELINE — WELLESLEY

A 24-year-old Wellesley man remained held without bail this weekend after pleading not guilty to first-degree murder in the June 25 fatal stabbing of his father at Phillips Park, and friends of the victim began speaking publicly about his life and legacy as the community absorbed the shock of the killing.

ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS

Multiple commercial outlets continued tracking the aftermath of the Phillips Park homicide and its court proceedings over the past 48 hours.

"Arrest Made After Fatal Wellesley Stabbing" — James Floyd Bennett III was ordered held without bail following his arraignment, with the victim transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital where he was pronounced dead, per Wellesley Patch (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/wellesley/arrest-made-after-fatal-wellesley-stabbing).

"Wellesley man allegedly killed by his son remembered by friend" — A friend of the victim spoke publicly about the loss, offering a personal portrait of the man at the center of the case, according to a WCVB report (read it at https://www.wcvb.com/article/wellesley-man-allegedly-stabbed-death-son-remembered-friend/71761643).

"Wellesley man held without bail in fatal stabbing of his father" — Bennett was held without bail after the arraignment tied to the June 25 incident at a Wellesley park, MetroWest Daily News reports (read it at https://www.metrowestdailynews.com/story/news/crime/2026/06/26/wellesley-ma-man-james-floyd-bennett-arraigned-on-charges-related-to-fatal-stabbing/90706576007/).

No fresh coverage from The Boston Globe on Wellesley-specific items appeared in this cycle.

COMMUNITY & ARTS

The Wellesley Free Library heads into the final days of June with a light but steady event calendar. Teen Craft To-Go Kits are available Monday, June 29, in the High School Room at the Main Library — a drop-in, all-day offering for teens. For adults, an "Online Selling Tips & Tricks" workshop runs Tuesday, June 30, from 1 to 3 p.m. in Jackie's Room, and Tech Time in Jackie's Room returns Thursday, July 2, from 10 a.m. to noon. Patrons should note that the Main Library parking lot is under construction through September 2026 and parking may be limited; the Hills Branch remains closed for renovations until fall 2026.

Looking a bit further ahead, the library's summer programming picks up with "Listening to New England with Mel Allen" on Tuesday, July 7, at 7 p.m., and a one-woman theatrical performance, "The Women of '76 with Rita Parisi," on Tuesday, July 14, at 7 p.m. — both in the Wakelin Room at the Main Library. All three library locations will be closed July 3 through July 5 for the Independence Day holiday weekend.

COMING UP

- **Mon., June 29** — Teen Craft To-Go Kits available all day, High School Room, Main Library - **Tues., June 30** — Storytime at Main, 10:30–11:30 a.m., Wakelin Room, Main Library; "Crazy for the Classics" (Tween/Kids), 5–6 p.m., Zoom; Online Selling Tips & Tricks, 1–3 p.m., Jackie's Room, Main Library - **Wed., July 1** — FELLS Garden Storytime, 10:30–11 a.m., Fells Branch; Storytime at Main, 10:30–11:30 a.m., Wakelin Room - **Thurs., July 2** — Tech Time in Jackie's Room, 10 a.m.–noon; Learn to Play Rummikub, 11 a.m.–noon, Wakelin Room, Main Library - **Fri.–Sun., July 3–5** — All library locations closed (Independence Day holiday weekend) - **Tues., July 7** — Listening to New England with Mel Allen, 7–8:30 p.m., Wakelin Room, Main Library