Matthew Perkins, Veteran, Charged With Killing Girlfriend And Her Young Children

[unhappycamper]

Matthew Perkins, Veteran, Charged With Killing Girlfriend And Her Young Children
LUCAS L. JOHNSON II | 09/23/10 06:36 PM

MANCHESTER, Tenn. — A soldier who served in Afghanistan and Iraq is accused of killing his girlfriend and her two young children, stuffing their corpses into plastic garbage bags and hiding them in a closet for days.

A neighbor says he noticed an unusual stillness at the house normally busy with the toddlers and their friendly mother. When police in this small town investigated a missing person's report Wednesday night, they said they found a "very gruesome" crime scene that rattled even veteran investigators.

"It's the worst I've seen, and I've been here 30 years," said Ray Stewart, a police investigator in this town of 10,000 that hosts the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival each summer.

Manchester Police Chief Ross Simmons identified the victims as 26-year-old Stephanie Hershman and her sons, 3-year-old Jathan and 1-year-old Jaylon.

Police said 30-year-old Matthew Perkins, of Tullahoma, told someone Wednesday night that he had killed the family, and the person went to police. The U.S. Army recruiter who has served overseas is charged with three counts of first-degree murder and is being held in the Franklin County jail on a $6 million bond.

[Lint Head]

1. I saw this yesterday.

This killer obviously obtained the skill of killing innocent women and children well. It did not phase him.

[asjr]

2. I live in Manchester. The whole town is in shock.