Florida Man Allegedly Shoots Girlfriend in $1.5 Million Home. Then He Uses Reward Points To Check Into a Hotel
Those reward points came with a much darker story
Hotel reward points are usually saved for a trip or a night away. But in one Florida murder case, they became part of the timeline investigators are now trying to piece together.
The case began inside a $1.5 million home, where a woman was found shot near the front door. The man accused of killing her was later found at a hotel miles away. But when investigators looked into his reservation, they discovered it had been made before the shooting.
Todd Wegrich, 53, is accused of fatally shooting his 42-year-old girlfriend at their home in Loxahatchee, Florida. According to Law&Crime, Wegrich booked a room at The Ben Hotel in downtown West Palm Beach using reward points shortly before the shooting. Authorities have not publicly identified the woman or revealed a possible motive.
The Reservation Raised More Questions
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office learned about the shooting on Friday after several people contacted authorities. Investigators claim Wegrich had reached out to friends and family members and admitted that he had killed his girlfriend. He allegedly told them he had left the house but would not reveal where he had gone.
Deputies were sent to Wegrich’s home in a gated community in Loxahatchee. When they arrived, they noticed several marks that appeared consistent with shots being fired. Officers eventually forced their way into the property and found the victim just inside the front door with multiple gunshot wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators then turned to surveillance footage from a neighboring property to establish what happened before deputies arrived. Shortly before 12:30 p.m., two vehicles could reportedly be seen pulling up to the house. Wegrich and his girlfriend got out of their respective cars and entered the property through the garage.
At around 1 p.m., audio from the same recording captured seven gunshots. Roughly 10 minutes later, Wegrich was allegedly seen walking out of the house carrying a bag. He then got into his Mercedes and drove away, leaving investigators to determine where he had gone after allegedly killing his girlfriend and leaving the scene.
But the hotel room investigators eventually traced him to had already been booked. Authorities learned that Wegrich reserved a room at The Ben Hotel using reward points minutes before the gunshots were recorded. That detail places the reservation before the alleged killing, though authorities have not said why he booked it or whether they believe it was connected to what happened next.
Cellphone data eventually placed Wegrich at the hotel in downtown West Palm Beach. Police located him inside a room on the seventh floor, but taking him into custody was not immediate. Wegrich allegedly barricaded himself inside for several hours while law enforcement surrounded the hotel.
A Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team was called to the scene as officers attempted to get him to come out. After the standoff continued, authorities reportedly used gas to force Wegrich from the room. He was then taken into custody.
The case also has an unsettling family connection. Wegrich’s father, John Wegrich, was accused of killing his girlfriend more than two decades ago and was wanted in connection with around a dozen bank robberies. In January 2002, an off-duty FBI agent reportedly recognized him before Palm Beach County sheriff’s deputies confronted him. Authorities said he reached behind his back, and deputies shot and killed him. Todd Wegrich was not accused of involvement in his father’s alleged crimes.
Wegrich reportedly moved into the $1.5 million Loxahatchee home in May after relocating from Ocala. Unlike some cases where investigators have explained why a man allegedly killed his romantic partner, authorities have not revealed a possible motive in Wegrich’s case.
Wegrich has been charged with first-degree murder and remains in the Palm Beach County Jail without bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 5.
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