An award-winning chef at the University of Massachusetts Amherst has been charged with murder after his wife was found dead in a hotel room on campus. Jeffrey MacDonald, 36, of Wilbraham, was arrested on Wednesday evening following a 911 call at Hotel UMass.
Police responded to the scene at approximately 7:42 pm, where MacDonald allegedly became combative, throwing objects at officers and striking one in the face. He was arraigned on Thursday at Eastern Hampshire District Court, pleading not guilty to one count of murder and one count of assault and battery on a police officer.
Officers discovered the victim's body in Room 413 of the 113-room hotel, which serves as a teaching facility for the university's hospitality programme. The injuries were consistent with a violent assault, according to police reports. MacDonald reportedly admitted to investigators that he had intentionally beaten his wife with his hands, feet, and other blunt objects, with the intent to kill her.
The victim, whose name has not been released, was also an employee of UMass Amherst. The cause of death has yet to be determined. UMass Amherst Chancellor Javier Reyes confirmed there is no ongoing threat to the campus, stating, 'This is heartbreaking and deeply unsettling news for our community.'
MacDonald, named Chef of the Year by the American Culinary Federation in 2023, is being held without bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for 12 May. The investigation involves UMass Amherst Police, the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit, and the Massachusetts Crime Scene Services Section.
