Kenosha---Donna Matthews may not be your typical alleged murderess, but the bail amount she received at her initial appearance in Kenosha Court Monday was in line with what you’d expect in a case of 1st Degree Intentional Homicide: A million dollars.
Matthews, with purported help from one of her brothers, allegedly killed her ex-boyfriend who, according to reports, wouldn’t let up on a pattern of abusive, controlling behavior.
In unsuccessfully arguing for low bail Monday, Matthews’ public defender, Hilary Edwards, said her client, a resident of Hawaii, had been cooperating with police, and at the time of her arrest in Seattle, had been on her way back to Kenosha. "I'm requesting a low cash bond or a signature bond," Edwards said.
But prosecutor Jennifer Phan argued that the Independence Day killing of Michael Gayan was the result of a calculated and thought-out plan.
In setting bail, Court Commissioner Dave Berman said he was afraid that Matthews would use her international connections to flee.
Matthews served in the military and lived for a time in both Germany and India before moving to Hawaii.
For the past seven years, Matthews and Gayan had an on-again, off-again relationship that Matthews had tried to stop on at least two occasions by obtaining restraining orders, claiming that Gayan wouldn't take no for an answer.
Edwards said her client had gone directly to Kenosha police, receiving a measure of sympathy but no satisfaction. "I believe it was made clear by the KPD, including Sgt. Cooper, that he agreed that (Gayan) was unlikely to stop his behavior and the constant harassment," she said.
Gayan's decomposed body was found in his home about a month after he died. There'd been no evidence of a struggle, police said.
Matthews purportedly told the brother shortly after the killing that she had entered Gayan's home while he wasn't there and laid in wait with a gun. When he returned, Matthews purportedly emerged from her hiding spot, directed an epithet at Gayan and then fired repeatedly. Gayan was hit twice in the chest and once in the arm. After knocking Gayan over the head with the butt of the gun, Matthews left to meet up again with the brother, Derrick Matthews. The pair disposed of the shell casings, and Mr. Matthews later gave the gun to his ex-wife.
Derrick Matthews himself is facing a charge of Party to the Crime of 1st Degree Intentional Homicide for allegedly supplying the gun and being in on the planning and attempted cover-up.
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