Man killed dad after slashing his girlfriend with hammer and tying son up
A Detroit man has been sentenced to life in prison for the brutal killing of popular radio news anchor Jim Matthews and the vicious attack on the anchor's family.
The sentencing took place on Thursday in Macomb County Circuit Court, where Judge James Biernat denounced the perpetrator Arthur Williamson, 55, as the "embodiment of evil," according to local radio station WWJ-AM.
During the sentencing hearing, Judge Biernat expressed his astonishment that Williamson hadn't killed all the members of the Matthews family, saying, "The only thing that's amazing is you didn't kill all of them."
Williamson, from Pontiac, had previously pleaded no contest in April to first-degree murder, assault with intent to murder, and unlawful imprisonment. A no-contest plea does not admit guilt but does not contest the charges brought against them.
Williamson pleaded no contest to charges including first-degree murder, assault with intent to murder, and unlawful imprisonment. (WWJ)The tragic incident unfolded in September when Matthews, an overnight anchor for WWJ-AM, was found bludgeoned to death with a hammer in Chesterfield Township, northeast of Detroit.
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Authorities revealed that Williamson was a friend of Matthews' girlfriend, Nichole Guertin.
The couple's two children, a 10-year-old son, and a 5-year-old daughter, also suffered injuries during the attack.
The young boy was struck in the head with the same hammer and left tied up in a closet.
The tragic incident left the community in shock and Matthews' family devastated (WWJ)During her testimony, Guertin recounted the harrowing events of that fateful night. She explained that Williamson had come to their home to smoke crack cocaine and bring heroin.
When she refused his request to engage in a role-playing scenario involving tying herself up, Williamson turned violent.
According to The Detroit News, Guertin revealed that he slashed her throat and secured her wrists and ankles with zip ties.
Matthews returned home later that night and was met with a horrifying assault.
He was struck with a hammer and stabbed by Williamson. Guertin managed to escape with their 5-year-old daughter and sought help, asking someone to call the police.
When Matthews arrived home, he was struck with a hammer and stabbed (WWJ)In a heart-wrenching victim impact statement read in court, Matthews' and Guertin's son expressed his deep resentment towards Williamson, blaming him for the anguish he and his family had endured.
"I hate you for what you did to me and my family," the young boy wrote. "You put me and my mom and my sister through hours of hell. You are evil."
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When given the opportunity to speak, Williamson offered a brief apology, simply saying, "I'm sorry."
However, Matthews' brother Joe Nicolai and his wife Jennifer, in an interview with WWJ-AM, expressed their disbelief in Williamson's remorse. "I have no forgiveness for him," Joe Nicolai declared. "You can't forgive something like that."
Jennifer Nicolai added, "The only sound we got was 'I'm sorry,' and that was it. There was no looking back at us and caring about what he did to our family and how he changed it forever."
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