After Man Beaten To Death In Danehy Park, Police, DA Ask For Help

CAMBRIDGE MA — The Middlesex District Attorney and the Cambridge Police are asking the public for help finding out how, why and by whom a 60-year-old Cambridge man was beaten to death in a Cambridge Park Wednesday night.

"If anybody was in that area between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. we really need you to call," said Cambridge Police Superintendent Steve DiMarco.

Around 6:46 p.m. Wednesday night someone called Cambridge Police to report they found a man on the ground inside Danehy Park along the pathway near the New Street side.

When police got there, they found an unconscious man, later identified to be Paul Wilson, with what appeared to be a serious head trauma along the path near a light. EMS rushed the man to Beth Israel Hospital with life threatening injuries, but he was pronounced dead just after 10 p.m.

Officials said the cause of death appears to be blunt force trauma. They believe robbery is not a motive, because he was found with several possessions.

Wilson, 60, of Cambridge lived nearby and was known to use the path to get to work and recreation. Wilson was about 6'6 and wearing shorts Wednesday and a red winter jacket and a winter hat and gloves.

During a press conference Thursday afternoon, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan encouraged anyone with information about the assault or anyone who happened to see Wilson Wednesday night to contact them.

It's not clear at this point if it was a random attack, Ryan said.

"I think people should be exercising caution at this point," said Ryan. "We do not have information at this point that tells us this was random. "

A baseball bat was found in nearby bushes, but it's also not clear if the bat had anything to do with the assault, according to the DA. "He was struck on the head with something," she said.

Wilson leaves behind several siblings and worked at a business in Cambridge, according to the District Attorney.

"I'm concerned," said DiMarco. Police said they're going door to door asking people nearby if they happened to see anything. Police are also planning to up their visibility in the park. There will also be a community meeting, he said.

It has been a decade since there was a serious violent crime at the park, he said.

In 2009 there was an aggravated assault in the park, but since then the park has been considered largely safe. Hundreds of people frequent it daily. There was only one homicide in 2018 in Cambridge last year.

"But for the amount of use, crime is very, very low in that area," said DiMarco.

The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, the Cambridge Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police are investigating, according to the DA's office. Thursday morning police returned to the park and had taped the area off.

Cambridge Police can be reached at 617-349-3300. Those who wish to provide information anonymously may dial the Cambridge Police Anonymous Crime Tip Hotline at 617-349-3359 and leave a message. Anonymous tips may also be sent via the Cambridge Police MyPD mobile app or via text message to 847411. Begin your text with TIP650 and then type your message.

To send anonymous tips via e-mail visit www.cambridgepolice.org/tips.

Watch the press conference here:

Photo up top Courtesy Cambridge Police