Man Remains Jailed As Investigation Into Wife’s Death Continues

Matthew Church, 33, of Georgetown, at his arraignment in Haverhill District Court.

A pre-trial status hearing in the case of a Georgetown man accused in early September of physically abusing his wife, who later died, was continued to Feb. 3 in Haverhill District Court.

Matthew Church, 33, of Georgetown, returned to court Tuesday for a pre-trial hearing postponed from Dec. 8. The hearing was continued for discovery motions, according to Steve F. O’Connell, spokesperson for Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett. Church was charged with assault and battery on a household member in connection with his arrest Sept. 1, sparked by a phone call to his probation officer, who then notified Georgetown police. 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 remains held without bail, the investigation remains ongoing,” O’Connell told WHAV. The findings of an autopsy, requested by WHAV, were not released.

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.