Matthew Church, 33, at his arraignment in Haverhill District Court.
Matthew Church, 33, of Georgetown, accused of physically abusing his wife who later died, returns to court Monday for continuance of a dangerousness hearing.
He has been held without bail since his arraignment Sept. 2 in Haverhill District Court on a charge of assault and battery on a household member. He was arrested by Georgetown police after Church made to his probation officer. Essex Assistant District Attorney Kim Faitella told Judge Stephen S. Abany that Church reported the victim, later identified as Kate Elizabeth (Lampron) Church, 31, fell and hit her chin on a sink after she had been drinking. However, police found the victim was not under the influence but did suffer other bruises to her arms, legs and back. Police found the victim dead during a return call.
“Police placed the defendant under arrest at that time when they were at the house and the victim refused medical attention. Her father had been contacted and he came from western (Massachusetts) to see her. When he arrived, he couldn’t get in, he contacted the police. When they went into the home around midnight, she was slumped on the floor against the bed and is deceased,” Faitella said.
“At this time there are no new charges,” Carrie Kimball-Monahan, spokesperson for Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett, told WHAV Friday morning.