The Murder of Frederick Matting
For this case, I watched an episode of Killer Siblings. It’s season 3 episode 9.
A man is brutally killed just steps from his home.
Background
Frederick ‘Fred’ Matting was originally from Memphis, Tennessee, but would later move to Cordova, Tennessee. At the time of his death, he and his wife, Patricia, had been married for 30 years. He had also worked at the same company for years as a machinist.
Fred’s friends said he lived life to the fullest. He was a joy to be around and Fred loved to tell jokes.
Frederick ‘Fred’ Matting
The 911 Calls
On November 2, 2010, the Cordova police received several 911 calls. The callers told the dispatcher that they had heard gun shots around 4:35am.
The police arrived a few minutes later, and saw a man lying on the ground. He had a wound to his pelvic area, had a large amount of blood coming from his head, and had been stabbed several times.
There was some blood spatter on the sidewalk, ground and grass. There was also a blood trail that led to a car on the opposite side of the street. A shot gun shell casing was found near the car, and a second one was found just a few yards away.
The victim was identified as Fred Matting. He still had his wallet and drivers license in his pocket, and had about $400 with him. The police were able to rule out robbery, but knew that someone had really wanted this man to die.
The Wife
The police knocked on the door at the home where the police believed the crime had started. The woman that answered the door identified herself as Patricia Matting, Fred’s wife.
The police were a bit shocked that Patricia had claimed not to have heard anything when the crime had started in her front yard. Patricia told the police that Fred had to work over time, but hadn’t made it home yet. Patricia was notified that Fred had been killed. She seemed confused, and allowed the police to enter her house.
Patricia was asked if Fred had any enemies, but she said no. When the police weren’t getting anywhere with her, they left, and went to speak to the neighbors.
There were many eyewitnesses who had heard the gunshots at 4:35am. One man said that he looked out the window, and had seen a large man wearing a yellow hoodie. They also saw the man getting into a dark colored Ford F-150 pickup truck. The pickup truck had been parked at a vacant house, and left without the lights on after the murder.
In the driveway of the house, the police found an oil stain on the driveway. After a background check, the police learned that the former owner of the house was a drug dealer in the area.
The Suspects
The police spoke to the former home owner. He said he had been getting ready to sell the house, and had not given anyone permission to be there. He said he was at home with his wife at the time of the murder, and was eventually ruled out.
On November 3, Fred’s autopsy came back. He had been shot in the pelvic area, stabbed in the head and neck, stabbed 4 times in the torso, had multiple fractures to his arms, and 10 fractured ribs. Fred had been tortured and killed in such a horrific way.
The police obtained a cell phone tower warrant. The data was able to show the phone numbers of anyone who had been within a 2 mile radius of the crime scene.
Fred’s cell phone records were also obtained. The police learned that he had been talking to a woman that lived about 15 minutes away from the crime scene. The text messages and phone calls were intimate, and it was clear they spoke everyday.
The woman eventually admitted that she and Fred were having an affair. She was also married, so the police thought that maybe the husband had found out and killed Fred. However, the husband had been at work at the time of the murder. He and his wife were both ruled out as suspects.
A Motive
By November 9, the police were very suspicious of Patricia. She hadn’t called them to ask about the case, and didn’t seem to care that much.
The police learned that Patricia had called a local insurance agent about Fred’s life insurance policy. This call had been placed a few days before the murder.
The police obtained Patricia’s phone records. Patricia had been contacting someone that lived in Carbondale, Illinois. The Carbondale police were contacted. It turns out that Patricia had a secret life in Carbondale. Patricia had a business license for a transportation business, a boyfriend, and had been renting out an apartment.
On December 1, Patricia was interviewed again. Patricia revealed that she knew Fred was having an affair. Patricia said she had found text messages on Fred’s phones, and called the woman about it.
Patricia was confronted about her own affair, and admitted it. Patricia tried to take the heat off of her, and claimed that Fred only cared about other women and partying.
Patricia was asked if she didn’t say anything about Carbondale because she was afraid of getting in trouble. Patricia said no, and that she hadn’t done anything wrong. The police weren’t really getting anywhere with her, so the interview was stopped.
Blood is Thicker Than Water
On December 2, the police went to Carbondale to speak to Patricia’s boyfriend. He was ruled out as a suspect.
The police went back to Patricia’s phone records, and learned that she had been in communication with someone else. That someone else was her older brother James ‘Zell’ Smith. James and Patricia had always been close, and he had always protected her.
James lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but his phone records put him in Carbondale on the weekend of the murder. The police reached out to the Milwaukee police. James had no criminal history, but in his drivers license photo, he was wearing a yellow hoodie. James also drove a dark colored Ford F-150.
A closer look at James and Patricia’s phone records revealed that their phones had been turned off from 10:30pm to 7am. It was unusual because they were both often active on their phones even early in the morning almost everyday.
The Confession
On December 3, 2010, James sat down with the police. At first, he claimed he had no information or knowledge about the murder. He said he was surprised when he learned that Fred was dead.
At the same time, Fred’s truck had been seized. There was no forensic evidence inside, but Fred’s truck was dripping oil. The police had found an oil stain on the driveway of the vacant house.
The police confronted James about being in Cordova on the night of the murder. At first, he said he did go there to confront Fred. He said when he arrived, someone else was attacking Fred. James said this person held him at gunpoint. The police knew he was full of shit.
James then said that Patricia had been talking to him about Fred, and that Fred was mentally and psychically abusive. James said Patricia asked him on several occasions to kill Fred. James said he would’ve done anything for his baby sister.
James said he and Patricia both turned their phones off the night before the murder. He then drove the almost 4 hours from Carbondale to Cordova, and arrived around 3:30am. James parked his truck in the vacant house driveway, and waited for Fred.
James said Fred knew it was him, and asked him what he was doing. James said he had a shot gun, and fired it at Fred. Fred took off running, but James stabbed him and hit him in the head with the gun. Fred was able to run away again, but eventually fell due to his wounds.
The police asked James why it was so violent. James said because Fred was able to get up and run away. James said he had tossed the gun and knife in the river on his way back home to Milwaukee.
The Convictions
On December 7, 2010, Patricia and James were charged with first degree murder. Patrica immediately asked for a lawyer and had refused to talk.
James agreed to testify against Patricia, and accepted a deal of 13 years in prison.
At Patricia’s trial in December 2012, the jury couldn’t agree on a verdict. The trial resulted in a mistrial. Patricia’s charge was reduced to reckless homicide, and she was sentenced to 8 years.
James died in prison in 2018, and Patricia has since been released.
James ‘Zell’ Smith
Patricia Matting
FINAL THOUGHTS
Obviously, they both should have gotten way longer sentences. The police had decided that any time served was better than nothing. I think James was manipulated by Patricia, who was obviously angry at Fred. But, James did decide to kill Fred, and kill him in such a brutal way.
Sources
https://thecinemaholic.com/frederick-matting-murder-where-are-patricia-matting-and-james-smith-now/
https://www.actionnews5.com/story/24049837/murder-pleads-guilty-to-murder-of-brother-in-law/
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/the-commercial-appeal/20131123/281801396745158
