Murder of Jim Matthews

Murder of Jim Matthews
LocationChesterfield Township, Michigan
Date23 September 2022; 2 years ago (2022-09-23)
Attack type
Homicide
WeaponHammer
Victims1 dead, 3 injured

The Murder of Jim Matthews was the September 2022 killing of news-radio anchor Jim Matthews at his home in Chesterfield Township, Michigan.

Jim Matthews

Jim Matthews was the overnight anchor at Metro Detroit's WWJ-AM known as "Newsradio 950". He had held that position for seven years. He was 57 years old at the time of his death.[1] "Matthews" was the name he used professionally; his legal surname was "Nicolai".[2] He was a graduate of Lutheran High School in Harper Woods, Michigan.[3]

Killing

On September 23, 2022, Matthews was reportedly bludgeoned with a hammer and/or stabbed to death at his home at the Hidden Harbor condominiums in Chesterfield Township. Three family members were also injured in the incident.

  • Matthews' girlfriend, Nicole Guertin age 35, was reportedly gagged and stabbed multiple times. Despite her injuries, Guertin was able to escape from the home carrying her five-year-old daughter.
  • The couple's 10-year-old son was discovered by police in a closet at the home. He had sustained blunt force injury to his head and was hospitalized in critical condition.
  • The couple's five-year-old daughter was also injured in the incident.

[4][3][5]

A fifth individual, Arthur Williamson, was discovered in the basement, reportedly overdosing. He was revived with Narcan and transported for medical attention.[6]

In October 2022, Guertin told the Detroit Free Press that Williamson was a friend who woke her up and seemed depressed.[7] According to police reports obtained by the paper, Williamson called Guertin at approximately 3 a.m. and came to the home at approximately 4 a.m.[2] When Guertin eventually asked Williamson to leave, Guertin stated that he "lost it", pulled a knife, cut her on the neck, and tied her hands and feet with zip ties. When Matthews arrived home from work in the morning, Williamson began stabbing him and hitting him in the head with a hammer.[7][2] Williamson told police he and Guertin were not dating and were just friends who "do drugs together."[7]

Prosecution

Charges

Williamson was charged on September 26, 2022, with one count of homicide-murder in the first degree, one count of homicide-felony murder, two counts of assault with intent to murder, and three counts of unlawful imprisonment. He had previous convictions for various violent crimes as well as narcotics related convictions.[8][9]

Preliminary examination

In February 2023, Williamson was bound over to stand trial for first-degree murder based on evidence presented at a preliminary examination in the Macomb County Circuit Court in New Baltimore, Michigan.

Nichole Guertin testified that she had an intimate relationship with Williamson, that they smoked crack cocaine before Matthews came home from work, and that the Accused told her "when Jim gets home, I'm gonna kill him." Forensic evidence was also presented showing that Matthews was struck in the head with a hammer more than 20 times and that his throat was also slit.[10][11]

No contest plea and sentence

On April 20, 2023, Williamson pleaded no contest in the killing as well as the assaults and the unlawful imprisonments.[12][13] On June 1, 2023, Williamson was sentenced to life in prison.[14]

References

  1. ^ O'Neill, Jesse (September 24, 2022). "Michigan news anchor Jim Matthews killed in attempted murder-suicide". New York Post.
  2. ^ a b c Hall, Christina (October 23, 2022). "Police reports: Man charged in WWJ anchor slaying 'lost it'". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on 23 October 2022.
  3. ^ a b Nichols, Anna Liz; Ramirez, Charles E.; Williams, Candice (September 26, 2022). "Suspect arraigned in radio anchor's fatal Macomb County stabbing". The Detroit News.
  4. ^ Hall, Christina (September 23, 2022). "WWJ anchor killed, 4 wounded in Chesterfield Township domestic attack". Detroit Free Press.
  5. ^ Hotts, Mitch (September 26, 2022). "WWJ news anchor bludgeoned to death with a hammer, prosecutor says". Macomb Daily.
  6. ^ Hotts, Mitch (September 26, 2022). "Slain news anchor's son remains hospitalized in critical condition after attack in Chesterfield". The Oakland Press.
  7. ^ a b c Hall, Christina (October 23, 2022). "Slain WWJ anchor's girlfriend: 'He didn't deserve anything that happened to him'". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on 23 October 2022.
  8. ^ "Suspect charged in killing of WWJ anchor Jim Matthews and attack on his family". WWJNewsradio950. September 26, 2022.
  9. ^ Sahouri, Andrea May (September 26, 2022). "Man charged with killing WWJ anchor, attacking family with hammer". Detroit Free Press.
  10. ^ Hall, Christina (February 27, 2023). "Man accused in slaying of former WWJ anchor Jim Matthews to stand trial". Detroit Free Press.
  11. ^ Nichols, Anna Liz (February 27, 2023). "Man accused in slaying of WWJ anchor Jim Matthews bound over for trial". The Detroit News.
  12. ^ "Suspect pleads no contest in murder of WWJ reporter Jim Matthews". Fox 2 Detroit. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  13. ^ "Man charged in hammer slaying of WWJ anchor convicted of murder, assaults". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  14. ^ "Man who killed WWJ anchor Jim Matthews sentenced to life in prison: 'Embodiment of evil'". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved July 14, 2024.