Matthew Allen Chaplin, a 51-year-old Caucasian male, was tragically killed on February 24, 2019, in Charlotte, North Carolina. The incident occurred in the early hours of the morning at his home in the Providence Country Club neighborhood. The perpetrator, John Bocek, a 23-year-old male, broke into the house and shot Matthew Chaplin and 15-year-old Jenna Hewitt, a friend of Chaplin's daughter, Kate Chaplin.
Bocek then turned the gun on himself, resulting in a double murder-suicide.
The motive behind the crime was rooted in Bocek's obsession with Kate Chaplin, Matthew's 16-year-old daughter. Kate had met Bocek online in January 2019, and when she refused to date him, Bocek became increasingly aggressive. Five days before the shooting, Bocek had assaulted Kate at her home, leading to a warrant for his arrest. However, police were unable to locate him before the tragic event.
On the night of the incident, Bocek shot through the back doors of the Chaplin residence and entered Matthew's room, where he fatally shot him. Bocek then proceeded to Kate's room, where she was asleep with her girlfriend, Jenna Hewitt. The two girls attempted to hide in a closet, but Bocek found them and shot Jenna before taking his own life.
Bocek had a history of criminal behavior, including previous threats and assaults. He had been charged with robbery and assault with a deadly weapon in connection with the earlier incident at the Chaplin residence. Additionally, Bocek had a lengthy criminal record, with over 40 criminal charges in Mecklenburg and Union counties, many of which were dismissed by prosecutors.
The tragic event left Kate Chaplin without her father and her girlfriend, and she has since spoken out about the importance of online safety and being cautious about the people one interacts with. The community and local authorities have provided support to the Chaplin family in the aftermath of this devastating loss.
