A man is being held without bail after allegedly killing his girlfriend in Taunton, Massachusetts, on Thursday.
Matthew Cruz, 37, faced a murder charge in court Friday over the death of Bridgewater resident Shannon Smith, who was also 37. Prosecutors told the judge that evidence from the scene belied Cruz’ account to police of what happened at his home, and that he has a history of domestic violence.
Smith was found unresponsive at the base of a staircase at a home on Allcot Circle shortly before 1 p.m. Thursday, prosecutors said. She was transported to Morton Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), visiting www.thehotline.org or texting LOVEIS to 22522.
Cruz called 911 to report Smith’s death, a prosecutor with the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office said at his was arraigned Friday at Taunton District Court, where a not guilty plea was entered on his behalf.
Smith appeared to officers at the scene to have been dead for some time, according to the prosecution.
Cruz told officers that he and Smith had been in an on-and-off relationship for nearly a year, and that they’d argued over claims of infidelity early in the day, the prosecutor said. He allegedly said Smith had thrown herself down the stairs after making suicidal statements, and that he tried giving her CPR before calling for help.
But investigators found biological evidence at the top of the stairs suggesting that the pair had fought at the top of the stairs and continuing down the stairs. Smith’s body also had apparent rug burn, suggesting she could have been dragged down the stairs, the prosecutor said.
Cruz was arrested on an assault and battery charge at that point. At the station, he allegedly confessed to fighting with Smith all the way down the stairs, leading to her death.
They’d woken up about 11:30 a.m. and talked about Smith’s infidelity, Cruz allegedly told officers. He pushed her from behind as she walked to the bathroom, leading to a shoving match down part of the stairs, the prosecutor said.
Cruz put Smith in a chokehold and they fell down the stairs together. He told officers let her go after she went limp and stopped fighting back, and after determining that she wasn’t pranking him, he called for help, the prosecutor recounted.
But she said that account wasn’t consistent with evidence from Smith’s body — investigators believe she was unconscious before being dragged down the stairs, possibly head-first.
Cruz has previously been convicted of assault and battery before, and his mother and ex-wife have previously taken out restraining orders against him, the prosecutor said. She moved to have his bail revoked in another matter, out of Brockton District Court, in which he allegedly pushed his 75-year-old father to the ground.
The judge ordered he be held without bail — a defense attorney for Cruz didn’t oppose it.
