In a quiet West Jordan, Utah, apartment, the lives of a young family were tragically cut short in the days leading up to Christmas. Six-year-old Gabriel Matern, a Caucasian male, was found deceased on December 17, 2009, a victim of a horrific act that also claimed the lives of his mother and younger brother. The devastating event unfolded within the walls of the Willow Cove Apartments, a place his mother had hoped would be a new beginning for her and her children.
Gabriel's mother,
31-year-old Melissa Ann Matern, had recently separated from her husband and moved into the apartment with Gabriel and his 4-year-old brother, Raiden, just a few weeks prior. The hope of a fresh start was shattered when the boys' father, 36-year-old Justin Zachariah Matern, arrived at the residence. Struggling with the couple's marital problems and his own mental health, Justin turned a handgun on his family, shooting Melissa and their two sons multiple times before taking his own life.
The grim discovery was made after Justin sent a series of text messages to friends and family around 7:30 p.m. that evening. In these final communications, he confessed to killing his wife and children and revealed his intention to commit suicide. Alarmed recipients of these messages immediately contacted the police. However, without a precise address, it took officers about an hour to locate the correct apartment. Upon entering, they found the bodies of the entire family. Further investigation revealed that Justin had also left a letter at the tattoo parlor where he worked, outlining his devastating plans.
Neighbors and family were left in shock, struggling to comprehend the violent end to the lives of Gabriel and his family. While a former neighbor recalled Justin having an angry disposition and being stressed by financial woes, there had been no official reports of domestic violence filed against him. The tragedy was a somber addition to a disturbing trend of murder-suicides that year, leaving a community to mourn the loss of two innocent children and their mother at the hands of their father. No arrests were made as the sole suspect was also deceased.
