Matthew Macon

Case record: Matthew Macon

Personal details

Matthew Emmanuel Macon was 27 when police said he was suspected of killing five women. He was of Lansing, and he was a prison parolee and a registered sex offender.

Background

Macon had been in prison off and on since 2001. He returned twice for parole violations after serving more than a year-and-a-half for larceny from a person. He had an extensive juvenile criminal history, including two sex offenses, breaking and entering, larceny and unlawfully driving away an automobile.

Macon was described as having a history including court-ordered treatment for sexual offenders. Court documents revealed that his father was violent and abusive, and his older sister was placed in foster care in 1983 after his father was accused of sexually abusing her.

At a 1996 Ingham County juvenile court hearing, a court referee said that although Macon was making progress in a program for sex offenders, he required “lifetime vigilance.” The court referee’s notes said: “Sexual offending - like an addiction.”

Police also said Macon killed at least six women. He was later arraigned on a murder charge in connection with the death of 64-year-old Sandra Eichorn on Aug. 27.

A gag order limited public statements made by Macon’s attorney and an assistant prosecuting attorney in Ingham County.

The offence

Police said Macon was suspected of killing five women in the city in just over a month, and that he also could face charges for a sixth killing from 2004.

Investigators had noted similarities between several slayings and a series of unsolved 2003 assaults. Police said the 2003 victims were middle-aged or older women who lived alone, as were a number of the recent homicide victims.

Police credited a dog that heard commotion during an assault and chased an attacker off the scene.

The crimes described by police included victims being women who lived alone and were beaten. Police said multiple bodies were found in Lansing houses.

Victims and assaults tied to the investigation

• Ruth Hallman, 76: Police said she was found beaten in her West Lapeer Street home and died from injuries two days later. Hallman died later after being found beaten in her home on July 26. Police said Hallman had long stood for safe streets and often provided information to police about drug houses.
• Deborah Kaye Cooke, 36: Police said her body was found in Hunter Park on the city’s east side. Officers found her body next to a tree at about 4:30 a.m. on Aug. 7. Police said she was bloodied and beaten in the face and naked below the waist.
• Debra Renfors, 46: Police said she was found dead in her new home in the 1000 block of North Washington in the Old Town district on Aug. 9. Friends said Renfors was trying to leave a life of prostitution and would clean homes to avoid the temptation of returning to the streets. She moved from Mt. Clemens to Lansing about seven years before.
• Sandra Eichorn, 64: Police said she was found dead in a home she was renting in the 1800 block of South Genesee on the west side. A relative of 64-year-old Sandra Eichorn found her body on the floor of her South Genesee Drive home. Police said she had been renting the house for about a year and lived by herself. Police described her as a General Motors Corp. plant retiree and a NASCAR fan.
• Karen Delgado-Yates, 41 (also described as Karen “Delgado-Yates”): Police said she was found injured in a vacant house in the 1100 block of Hickory Street. Investors interested in buying the house found Delgado-Yates. Police said she died on the way to the hospital after being taken by ambulance from 1115 Hickory Street.
• Unnamed 56-year-old woman (assault survivor): Police said she was assaulted in her home on the city’s east side in the 200 block of Jones Street. Police said the attacker claimed to be looking for work, entered her back door, and struck her in the head. Her dog scared off the man and he fled. Police said the woman called police after the assault, and her description and evidence inside the home helped focus the investigation and led to a sketch of a suspect being distributed to the public. The woman was released from the hospital after non-life-threatening injuries.

Possible sixth killing

Police wanted Macon to be charged with the 2004 death of Barbara Jean Tuttle, 45, of Lansing. Police said Tuttle’s body was found in the same house where Renfors was later discovered.

Investigation

Police had been looking for clues and help from the public in five unsolved homicides since late July. Officials described the city as about 75 miles northwest of Detroit.

At the time police said the person responsible for the crimes was connected to the deaths of Hallman, Cooke, Renfors, Yates and Hallman, with Ruth Hallman being found beaten in her home July 26 and dying later. Police said Cooke’s body was found Aug. 6 in a city park. Police said Renfors was found dead Aug. 9 in a house.

Investigators had noted similarities between several slayings and unsolved 2003 assaults.

A sketch of a suspect was distributed to the public based on the description given by the woman who survived the Jones Street assault.

Police credited the woman for providing key details that helped focus the investigation and led to the sketch.

Arrest and detention

Macon was arrested Tuesday in connection with the deaths of Ruth Hallman (76), Deborah Cooke (36), Debra Renfors (46), Sandra Eichorn (64), and Karen Yates (41). Police said he had been arrested in connection with deaths during the summer.

Investigators announced he had been arrested on suspicion of not reporting to his parole officer and not registering as a sex offender. Police said he also had an outstanding warrant for breaking and entering.

Macon was ordered held without bond during a video arraignment in Lansing District Court.

He was handcuffed and wearing an orange jail jumpsuit while standing beside his attorney, Mike O’Briant. Macon waived the right to have a preliminary examination within 14 days. The preliminary exam was set for Oct. 30–31 in the death of Sandra Eichorn, 64, who was found dead in her home Aug. 27.

Macon was being held in a maximum-security single-person cell at the Ingham County Jail.

Trial and preliminary proceedings

Preliminary hearing and binding over for trial

On Monday, Nov. 5, 2007, a judge bound Matthew Emmanuel Macon over for trial after a preliminary hearing. A Michigan State Police forensic expert testified that genetic evidence found at the two crime scenes matched Macon’s DNA profile.

Judge Patrick Cherry dismissed charges of criminal sexual conduct, home invasion and failure to register his residence with authorities.

Macon was charged with the August killings of Karen Delgado-Yates, 41, and Sandra Eichorn, 64. Judge Patrick Cherry dismissed a criminal sexual conduct charge related to the Delgado-Yates case, saying: “The evidence … is sufficiently sketchy.”

The preliminary hearing included testimony linking Macon to Eichorn’s house and to the vacant house where Karen Delgado-Yates was found barely alive.

The judge ruled that Macon would stand trial for:

• murder in connection with the deaths of Sandra Eichorn and Karen Delgado-Yates, and
• assaulting Linda Chapel Jackson in her home.

A trial date had not been set.

Assistant Prosecutor Catherine Emerson described evidence that, as Delgado-Yates was clinging to life, she was dragged to a basement drain and then back upstairs to the living room. Emerson said: “It was brutal, inhumane and sadistic.”

A forensic pathologist testified that Delgado-Yates suffered massive head injuries, possibly after being struck by a toilet tank lid found in the home’s living room. The pathologist also testified she suffered a skull fracture and four broken ribs.

Macon’s attorney, Mike O’Briant, said after the hearing it was possible errors were made in the DNA testing, stating: “DNA evidence is very complicated,” and “There’s a lot of room for mistakes — and I’ll just leave it at that.”

O’Briant also said during the hearing: “It just takes a little evidence” to send Macon to trial, and told reporters: “Keep an open mind.”

Statements at arraignment and counsel positions

At the video arraignment, Macon consistently responded to Judge Patrick F. Cherry’s procedural questions by answering, “Yes sir, your honor.”

O’Briant said the state of mind was good and that he saw no need to seek a referral for a psychiatric evaluation, stating: “I do not believe he's incompetent.”

O’Briant planned to file a motion to change venue, citing public statements about the case made by the Lansing mayor and police chief.

After the arraignment, Macon’s family members declined comment to the media and referred questions to his lawyer.

O’Briant said Macon’s family was supportive of him and “his demeanor is up.” O’Briant also said: “I do not believe he’s incompetent” and that he planned to file a motion to change venue.

Macon waived preliminary examination within 14 days and the preliminary exam was set for Oct. 30–31.

Sentencing

On June 18, 2008, Macon was sentenced to two terms of life imprisonment without parole.

Appeals

The case was associated with State of Michigan Court of Appeals opinions 286662; 286663; 286665.

Outcome and later developments

Police had described the accused as a suspect in a spree of slayings.

During a news conference, Lansing police Chief Mark Alley said: “I am confident we have the right person in custody,” and he described Macon as a “serial killer.”

Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero said: “The despicable individual responsible for the heinous rampage through our community has been captured,” and “Our nightmare is over.”

Other details

Family members, bond, and court conditions

In one later proceeding, Claude McCollum was described as having his conviction thrown out and another man having confessed; the matter referenced a confession by accused serial killer Matthew E. Macon.

Macon’s lawyer in that related reporting was quoted as saying he would not comment citing a gag order.

Statements included:

• Macon’s sister Melissa Macon told Wlns.com: “The guy that's a suspect, his nose is very different,” and “The guy doesn't have facial hair, but my brother's face will never be cleanly shaven, because even when he does shave there are still hairs. Police just want to get somebody. People are thinking they are safe because my brother is locked up now, but they're not safe.”
• Macon’s father, Jim Henry Macon Jr., said: “[The sketch] doesn't look anything like him so I don't know what to think,” and “You're innocent until proven guilty ... I guess his freedom's in God's hands.”
• Lansing Police Department Capt. Ray Hall told Wlns.com: “This victim was brutally attacked and she stayed coherent, articulate and like in any investigation, we got the break and things started to fall in our favor and break wide open,”

Childhood and juvenile history details

Macon ran away from a foster care home in 1989 and was considered a “delinquent court ward.” Also in 1989, he was charged with breaking into a Lansing bike shop and a comic club and pleaded guilty.

In 1992, he was sent to Boys Town in Nebraska for delinquent children. In November 1994, he appeared in Ingham County juvenile court after escaping from Highfields, a home for juvenile offenders in Onondaga. He admitted taking a car from the facility and, with a friend, breaking into a grocery store and stealing food, according to a plea agreement.

In May 1995, he was sent to W.J. Maxey Boys Training School near Ann Arbor. The facility provided sexual offender treatment, according to the state Department of Human Services. Macon remained at Maxey in the court’s temporary custody through May 1996.

In October 1997, he completed a sex offender treatment program. Social workers believed the likelihood he would commit another sex offense was “very slim.”

Mentions of medical or professional assessments

A report quoted Dr. Bob Geffner, an expert on sexual assault, who said: “The vast majority of adolescents who commit sex offenses do not become sex offenders, serial rapists or even serial killers,” and he also said: “If nobody dealt with the trauma, anger and hostility,” and “that increases the likelihood it will come out … The anger becomes aggressive and turns outward.”

Confession and evidence review references

Michigan State Police Detective Lt. Jamie Corona stated: “It’s going to prove or be part of proving the innocence of McCollum,” and later was quoted: “This is confidential information,” and also: “It appears to me an innocent man goes free,” and “we’re going to have mistakes.”

In the reporting about Macon’s confession, Corona confirmed: “Yes,” in response to a question about whether Macon confessed to killing Kronenberg. Corona added that he saw transcripts of investigator interviews with Macon.

Legal charges mentioned during case proceedings

Macon was charged with murder in connection with the death of Sandra Eichorn and with the death of Karen Delgado-Yates, and was also charged with assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder at another Lansing home Aug. 28.

Macon was also charged with first-degree home invasion and assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder at another Lansing home Aug. 28, involving an unnamed victim who was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

The preliminary ruling dismissed charges of home invasion and failure to register his residence, and dismissed a criminal sexual conduct charge related to the Delgado-Yates case.

Macon was ordered held without bond during arraignment and waived preliminary examination within 14 days.