Son of news anchor killed in ‘murder-suicide’ tried to WRESTLE attacker off his father

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The son of a Michigan news anchor, who was slain in alleged murder-suicide attempt by a ‘family friend,’ tried to wrestle the attacker off his father before being beaten and bound in a closet, according to his distraught family. 

Overnight anchor Jim Matthews, 57, was killed at his Chesterfield Township home outside Detroit – and his son Hunter, 10, was whacked with a hammer when he fought the attacker on Friday night. 

Shortly after, police were called to the residence and found Matthews dead and his 35-year-old girlfriend, Nichole Guertin suffering from serious stab wounds.

When Guertin was discovered, she was bleeding severely and bound with duct tape in a nearby parking lot.   

Hunter, 10, is in critical condition following brain and ear surgery after being being beaten, tied up, and thrown into a closet when he tried to fight his father’s killer. 

Speaking to WXYZ, Jim Matthews’ brother Joe Nicolai described the scene of the massacre as being ‘not even something you’d see in a horror movie.’

News anchor Jim Matthews pictured with his girlfriend and the mother of his children, Nichole Guertin

News anchor Jim Matthews pictured with his girlfriend and the mother of his children, Nichole Guertin

Ten-year-old Hunter Matthews (left) and sister Rosie, 5 (right), were hospitalized following the murder of their father, WWJ950's overnight anchor Jim Matthews

Ten-year-old Hunter Matthews (left) and sister Rosie, 5 (right), were hospitalized following the murder of their father, WWJ950's overnight anchor Jim Matthews

Ten-year-old Hunter Matthews (left) and sister Rosie, 5 (right), were hospitalized following the murder of their father, WWJ950’s overnight anchor Jim Matthews

Nicolai said of the suspect: ‘There is no motive, I don’t know why [the suspect] was in the house. I talked to the lead investigator, and my brother probably came home to this.’

He continued: ‘He comes home about 5:30 in the morning and was probably surprised and attacked.

‘I believe that Hunter the 10-year-old was trying to fight off this man that was attacking and trying to kill his father, and that’s how Hunter ended up injured and tied and put into a closet.’

Jim Matthews, who also went by Jim Nicolai, was an anchor for WWJ950.

Hunter was found tied up in a closet suffering from head trauma. Police said the boy was brutalized after he tried fighting off the murderer, who is in the hospital and has yet to be named. 

The boy was promptly hospitalized, where he underwent brain and ear surgery and is currently sedated as he ‘goes through the biggest challenge he has yet to face,’ his aunt Ashley Quigley said. 

Quigley, who described the attack on her sister’s family as ‘vicious’ and ‘needless,’ has started a GoFundMe page to support her family as she is also taking in her niece, Rosie, 5, who suffered less serious injuries in the incident. 

In a separate interview with Fox2, Joe Nicolai spoke lovingly about his brother saying: ‘He was very passionate about his kids, took care of his kids, a family man, he was just an awesome person.’ 

He also said: ‘Just the children, my God, the children, scarred for life.’ 

Nicolai reiterated that he didn’t know why the suspect was at his brother’s home saying: ‘I have no idea why he was there or what he was doing there or what business he had there.’

Matthews (above),  57, was killed and his girlfriend and their two kids injured in what police are calling a murder and attempted suicide after the anchor invited a 'family friend' inside

Matthews (above),  57, was killed and his girlfriend and their two kids injured in what police are calling a murder and attempted suicide after the anchor invited a 'family friend' inside

Matthews (above),  57, was killed and his girlfriend and their two kids injured in what police are calling a murder and attempted suicide after the anchor invited a ‘family friend’ inside

Hunter, pictured with mother Nichole Guertin and his sister, underwent brain and ear surgey after being beaten and tied in a closet when he tried to fight off his father's murderer

Hunter, pictured with mother Nichole Guertin and his sister, underwent brain and ear surgey after being beaten and tied in a closet when he tried to fight off his father's murderer

Hunter, pictured with mother Nichole Guertin and his sister, underwent brain and ear surgey after being beaten and tied in a closet when he tried to fight off his father’s murderer

Guertin, Matthew’s live-in girlfriend, was critically injured in the attack, cops said, after escaping the horrific scene with her and Matthews’ daughter.

Stabbed multiple times and leaving her older child behind, the woman was able to escape the house with the young girl and flag down a driver to call police, despite reportedly being bound and gagged.

Upon arriving at the residence, authorities also found the 54-year-old male suspect, overdosing on heroin and suffering from self-inflicted wounds in the home’s basement. 

The suspect was then resuscitated by officials with the prescription narcotic Narcan, and was taken into police custody. 

Chesterfield Police said the investigation was still ongoing.  

Guertin and the kids survived the assaults, after escaping the horrific scene with the pair's other daughter, Rosie, who suffered less serious, unspecified injuries, cops said

Guertin and the kids survived the assaults, after escaping the horrific scene with the pair's other daughter, Rosie, who suffered less serious, unspecified injuries, cops said

 Guertin and the kids survived the assaults, after escaping the horrific scene with the pair’s other daughter, Rosie, who suffered less serious, unspecified injuries, cops said

The unnamed assailant remains hospitalized and is in stable condition, but faces a litany of charges for the assault – for which cops have yet to glean a motive. 

Cops noted that the unidentified attacker had been an acquaintance of the family as well as frequent visitor of the residence, and had been invited inside the home before carrying out the attack, police said.

The sudden tragedy has since left locals reeling as they mourn the late journalist, who spent nearly seven years as the radio station’s overnight news anchor.   

The late broadcaster was remembered by his longtime employer as a devoted and dependable family man who was passionate about reporting the news throughout his time with the network.

‘He would often talk to co-workers about his children and his love for them and their adventures at school,’ the radio station wrote.

‘He was a consummate professional and was dedicated to WWJ and the broadcasting industry. He loved delivering the latest news to his listeners.’

The station added that ‘there have been many tears shed in our newsroom’ in the wake of Matthews’ sudden death, and that ‘our thoughts and prayers go out to Jim’s family and friends.’

Troublingly, many of Matthews’ colleague’s learned of his passing live on air, forced to anchor Jackie Paige report the then breaking incident to thousands of daytime listeners.

Stabbed multiple times and leaving her older child behind, the woman was able to escape the house with the young girl and flag down a driver to call police

Stabbed multiple times and leaving her older child behind, the woman was able to escape the house with the young girl and flag down a driver to call police

Stabbed multiple times and leaving her older child behind, the woman was able to escape the house with the young girl and flag down a driver to call police

‘We are updating our top story this afternoon,’ Paige said while announcing the grisly murder Friday.  ‘It’s very difficult to report. Our overnight news anchor Jim Matthews was killed this afternoon in Chesterfield Township.’

Staffer added that Matthews would often talk about his children and tout his love for them to his coworkers at WWJ, excitingly telling them about their adventures at elementary school. 

‘Something like this I never would have expected it in a million years,’ said broadcaster Charlie Langton, who reports for the station during the day, of his late colleague. 

‘When he was off at 5 am I was just coming in at 5 am, so I would see him,’ Langton recalled. ‘He always had a nice word, always had something good to say. He was just a great guy.’

The sudden tragedy has since left locals and the Detroit news scene reeling as they mourn the late anchor, who spent nearly seven years as the radio station's overnight news anchor

The sudden tragedy has since left locals and the Detroit news scene reeling as they mourn the late anchor, who spent nearly seven years as the radio station's overnight news anchor

The sudden tragedy has since left locals and the Detroit news scene reeling as they mourn the late anchor, who spent nearly seven years as the radio station’s overnight news anchor

The attack happened around midday Friday at Matthews' and Guertin's home on Bayview Drive off Hooker Road in the Chesterfield Township, a quiet suburb outside of Detroit

The attack happened around midday Friday at Matthews' and Guertin's home on Bayview Drive off Hooker Road in the Chesterfield Township, a quiet suburb outside of Detroit

The attack happened around midday Friday at Matthews’ and Guertin’s home on Bayview Drive off Hooker Road in the Chesterfield Township, a quiet suburb outside of Detroit

Neighbors in the close-knit suburb were similarly shocked by the tragedy, which is currently being probed by local police.

‘I think it’s crazy. I can’t make sense of it,’ said Thomas Teague, who said. ‘I just got a ton of phone calls of them telling me what happened and she was laying outside bound and gagged.’

His colleagues fought through their emotions as they remembered Matthews on air.

‘He would often talk to co-workers about his children and their adventures at school,’ Paige said during an on-air tribute. ‘He was a consummate professional and was dedicated to WWJ and the broadcasting industry. He loved delivering the latest news to his listeners every night.

‘There have been many tears shed in our newsroom this afternoon. Our thoughts and our prayers go out Jim’s family.’

Police said they found 10-year-old Hunter (at right, locked in a closet with a severe head injury. Sources said the youngster was beaten by the alleged perpetrator over the head multiple times with a hammer - as he tried to fight off the suspect. He is currently in critical condition, while his younger sister Rosie, who suffered less serious injuries, was in stable condition

Police said they found 10-year-old Hunter (at right, locked in a closet with a severe head injury. Sources said the youngster was beaten by the alleged perpetrator over the head multiple times with a hammer - as he tried to fight off the suspect. He is currently in critical condition, while his younger sister Rosie, who suffered less serious injuries, was in stable condition

Police said they found 10-year-old Hunter (at right, locked in a closet with a severe head injury. Sources said the youngster was beaten by the alleged perpetrator over the head multiple times with a hammer – as he tried to fight off the suspect. He is currently in critical condition, while his younger sister Rosie, who suffered less serious injuries, was in stable condition

The 54-year-old suspect, who police said was a friend of the family and had been invited inside prior to the assault, remains hospitalized and is in stable condition, police said

The 54-year-old suspect, who police said was a friend of the family and had been invited inside prior to the assault, remains hospitalized and is in stable condition, police said

The 54-year-old suspect, who police said was a friend of the family and had been invited inside prior to the assault, remains hospitalized and is in stable condition, police said

Police said they were notified of the incident after a bound and gagged Guertin managed to escape the home with Rosie in tow before flagging down an unidentified driver. 

The driver then called 911, and police would descend on the scene minutes later.

‘A 35-year-old white female had escaped with her five-year-old daughter,’ said Chesterfield Police Chief Brian Bassett.

The top cops added that Guertin ‘was suffering from stab wounds at that time,’ to which ‘our police officers and firefighters began rendering aid.’ 

At that point, Bassett added, ‘additional officers made entry into the home,’ where they came across Matthews, who was already deceased.

Both kids, as well as their mother, remained hospitalized as of Saturday morning - Hunter and his mom in critical condition, and young Rosie in stable condition, police said

Both kids, as well as their mother, remained hospitalized as of Saturday morning - Hunter and his mom in critical condition, and young Rosie in stable condition, police said

Both kids, as well as their mother, remained hospitalized as of Saturday morning – Hunter and his mom in critical condition, and young Rosie in stable condition, police said

‘We also found a 10-year-old white male bound and suffering from blunt force trauma,’ Bassett said. The boy, like his mother, was also hospitalized and said to be in critical condition.

Police added that Rosie also ‘injured’ but did not detail the severity of those injuries, saying that she was in stable condition.

The chief did not disclose the location of or specific type of injuries the suspect – as well as the victims suffered.

‘Our investigation has determined this is an isolated tragedy that does not present a danger to our community at this time,’ Bassett said during the news conference,

Police have yet to reveal the identity of the attacker, and have only hinted at a supposed connection to the family. Their investigation is currently ongoing, with the suspect likely facing first-degree and attempted murder charges.

Chesterfield Police Chief said Friday that Matthew's 10-year-old son was beaten by the alleged perpetrator over the head multiple times with a hammer - as he tried to fight off the suspect who was killing his father, but was instead left for dead tied up in the closet

Chesterfield Police Chief said Friday that Matthew's 10-year-old son was beaten by the alleged perpetrator over the head multiple times with a hammer - as he tried to fight off the suspect who was killing his father, but was instead left for dead tied up in the closet

Chesterfield Police Chief said Friday that Matthew’s 10-year-old son was beaten by the alleged perpetrator over the head multiple times with a hammer – as he tried to fight off the suspect who was killing his father, but was instead left for dead tied up in the closet