Haverhill Judge Orders Husband of Deceased Woman to Remain Jailed

Matthew Church at his arraignment in Haverhill District Court.

A Georgetown man, accused of physically abusing his wife who later died, will remain held without bail while awaiting a pre-trial hearing next month.

Matthew Church, 33, of Georgetown, was denied bail after Monday’s conclusion of a dangerousness hearing held in Haverhill District Court. He is charged with assault and battery on a household member in connection with a Sept. 1 incident and arrest by Georgetown police after Church made a call to his probation officer. According to Essex Assistant District Attorney Kim Faitella, 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.

“He was held without bail and has a pre-trial hearing on Dec. 8,” Carrie Kimball-Monahan, spokesperson for Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett, told WHAV Tuesday.

Monday’s court session was a continuation of a hearing that began last Thursday. In September, Faitella told Judge Stephen S. Abany charges could be upgraded pending the outcome of an autopsy. However, Kimball-Monahan said Friday, “At this time there are no new charges.”

Prior to his arrest, Church had been on probation in connection with an alleged assault case last April out of Gloucester, which in May was continued without a finding for 15 months. The couple had recently moved to Georgetown. According to Kimball-Monahan, Church violated a probation order to not abuse the victim and to enter a batterer’s intervention program.

2 thoughts on “Haverhill Judge Orders Husband of Deceased Woman to Remain Jailed

    • He’s a really great person. Hard worker, great friend. I doubt you’re perfect and I doubt you haven’t done something you wish didn’t. The public doesn’t have all the facts. I.suggest you get off your high horse and wait for the verdict, perhaps take care of your own problems while your at it.