BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- The wife of a former bodybuilding champion said she witnessed her husband's beating death.

The incident happened around 2:30 a.m. Sunday on the 4300 block of Whitegate Avenue, near the corner of McKee and Akers.

Area residents say Patrick Matsuda went across the street to tell a group of men outside his neighbor's home to quiet down. That's when the group turned on Matsuda and attacked him.

His wife, Annette, said she witnessed the entire incident. She said that the men surrounded her husband and beat him with baseball bats and pipes.

"Beating him repeatedly after he's not even moving," she said. "When he was lying there I tried to help him and stop the bleeding. I tried to save him."

Matsuda was rushed to a hospital, but it was too late.

"I just don't know why anybody would do that to somebody," said Annette. "He's a good dad. A good husband. A good friend."

Matsuda was a California State University, Bakersfield graduate and was also a former national champion in amateur bodybuilding.

He leaves behind four children and a heartbroken widow.

"I love him," his wife said. "And I will miss him so much."

Bakersfield police have not released suspect information at this time, but the family is urging anyone with information to please contact police at (661) 327-7111.

So far, no arrests have been made.