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A year later, family continues to search for answers in Cambridge vicious fatal attack

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — It’s been one year since Paul Wilson was brutally attacked while out for a walk in one of Cambridge’s safest parks. Today, his family continues to push for answers in his death.

“My brother would have been the last person I ever would’ve thought to have violence perpetrated against him," said Elizabeth Dobbins, the victim’s sister.

On Jan. 2, 2019, Cambridge Police responded to reports of an unresponsive man in the area of Danehy Park at around 7 p.m.

The victim, identified as IBM engineer Paul Wilson, 60, was rushed to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. He was later pronounced dead.

Wilson still had all his belongings on him when emergency crews found him, suggesting this wasn’t a robbery.

“We have no information to suggest this was anything other than a random attack," said Middlesex DA Marian Ryan.

He was found with multiple blunt-force injuries to the head, but to this date authorities have not been able to find a murder weapon. A baseball bat found at the scene was tested and ruled out.

“He went through there like he would walk through your front door, he felt very safe," said Dobbins. “He would take telescopes there at 2 in the morning just to stargaze, he felt so safe.”

A 24-year resident of the neighborhood, 6-foot-6 Wilson is described as someone who loved his community and his life, maintaining lifelong friendships and staying close to his family.

“That’s why I’m asking the people of Cambridge to just try to remember what was going on for them that night," said Dobbins. “What you may have heard from someone or about someone or something that could help us.”

There are no city of Cambridge cameras in the area of Danehy Park, but investigators say they have recovered some surveillance video from neighbors and businesses which have lead to some potential clues. They have not released a description of a suspect nor do police have a motive for the crime.

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