Former MMA fighter stabs man to death in 20-minute rampage in Atlantic City hotel room

A former mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter has admitted to stabbing a man to death in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Andrew Osborne, 35, pleaded guilty to stabbing and killing Brian Wilkerson, 47, in an Ocean Casino hotel room on Sept. 23, 2022. After he entered his guilty plea Thursday, New Jersey State Police guidelines recommend a 25-year prison sentence, the Atlantic County, New Jersey, District Attorney’s Office said in a statement.

His verdict will be announced in August.

Osborne stabbed Wilkerson in the head and neck before leaving his hotel room wearing his victim’s shoes and pants, local portal NJ.com reports. The entire ordeal lasted less than half an hour.

According to NJ.com, Wilkerson’s door was opened just before 7 a.m. on the morning of his murder and the latch was locked to prevent it from closing. Ten minutes later, the former MMA fighter was caught on video exiting an elevator on Wilkerson’s floor at 7:09 a.m.

According to NJ.com, the door closed two minutes later and opened again at 7:30 a.m., according to the hotel’s lock report. Surveillance footage shows him returning to his room with a black bag. Just minutes later, Osborne and his wife then went into the parking garage and left the hotel.

Osborne checked in just hours before the murder, while Wilkerson checked in the night before. His body was discovered at 1:30 p.m. the day of his murder, NJ.com reports.

According to police, Osborne and his wife returned to their home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, before police arrested the former MMA fighter three days later.

According to ESPN, Osborne fought in MMA from 2012 to 2013.

According to his obituary, Wilkerson was from Galloway, New Jersey. The 47-year-old worked for a construction company until he became an accountant in 2008. He also attended a local Lutheran church.

“Brian’s death was very tragic and sudden and he will be sorely missed by everyone who knew him,” his obituary said.