‘Hammer saturated in blood’: Freetown man accused of killing girlfriend held without bail

FREETOWN, Mass. — A 54-year-old Freetown man was held without bail without prejudice during his arraignment for murder on Wednesday, accused of killing his girlfriend in a violent episode at their home on Chace Road.

Matthew Lucas is accused of killing 44-year-old Heidi Chace at the house where they both lived at 92 Chace Road. A not guilty plea was entered on his behalf in Fall River District Court.

“It’s a particularly violent and vicious crime scene,” Assistant District Attorney Caleb Weiner said in court.

At 4:35 a.m. Wednesday, police received a call from a neighbor reporting that he had found a woman unconscious at a residence at 92 Chace Road.

The neighbor reported that the woman, later identified as Heidi Chace, was not breathing and “cold to the touch,” Weiner said in court. The neighbor told police that the woman’s boyfriend, later identified as Lucas, had also been at the home prior to the call, but had since left on foot.

When emergency responders arrived, they found the victim dead at the scene, Weiner said.

“She appeared to have suffered significant trauma to her face. Blood was observed throughout the residence and investigators found a hammer saturated in blood that had hair on it,” Weiner said.

Lucas and Chase lived at the single-family home, which had been subdivided into two residences, Weiner said. Another couple lived next door.

Witnesses told investigators that on Tuesday night, Lucas and Chace had been socializing with neighbors, and “had been smoking cocaine and drinking,” Weiner said.

Lucas had recently “been released from a commitment a couple of days” prior to the killing, and witnesses told police he had become “increasingly paranoid,” Weiner said.

On Tuesday night, Lucas “had been grabbing at the victim’s hair and at her neck and they had to be separated,” Weiner said.

Some time later, witnesses told investigators they heard Lucas yelling and objects being smashed at their residence.

A neighbor went to check on the couple, and only heard Lucas inside, Weiner said.

The neighbor heard Lucas allegedly say, “Why are you cold, Heidi? I love you,” Weiner said.

“He engaged Lucas at that time through the screen door and Lucas explained that he had killed Heidi, and that his life was over,” Weiner said, adding that Lucas had blood on himself and on his clothes.

The neighbor then went inside the home and found the bloodied victim and the house in disarray, Weiner said.

Police were provided with a description of Lucas, who was later found by investigators hiding in a shed on nearby Burns Lane.

Lucas has a violent, 24-page history, including “numerous entries” for violent felonies resulting in convictions and committed time, Weiner said.

Lucas also has a history of four restraining orders taken out by separate women, with one of those restraining orders due to expire on Wednesday, the day he was arrested for murder, Weiner said.

In court, Lucas’ defense attorney asked the judge to hold Lucas without bail without prejudice, arguing that his client has a history of schizophrenia and other mental illness, and had recently been released from a mental institution. Lucas “and a group of people” also engaged in crack cocaine smoking “all evening that leads up to this,” the defense attorney said.

Lucas is due back in court on Oct. 20 for a probable cause hearing.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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