Winchester Man Arraigned For Murder

WOBURN – Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan announced today that a Winchester man has been arraigned in connection with the beating death of 70-year-old Barbara McAveeney.

Matthew McAveeney, 46, of Winchester, was arraigned in Woburn District Court on October 29 on charges of murder, armed assault with intent to murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon resulting in serious bodily injury, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon on a person 60 years of age or older, assault and battery and two counts of cruelty to animals.  

The defendant was arraigned before Woburn District Court Judge Michael Brooks and ordered held without bail. A probable cause hearing is scheduled for November 25.

“This defendant allegedly took his own mother’s life in a savage attack,” District Attorney Ryan said. “We are grateful to all the law enforcement agencies that worked together to bring the defendant into custody and to return him to Massachusetts.”

According to authorities, the defendant allegedly beat his mother to death inside her apartment and then left the state. The woman’s body was discovered October 14 by Winchester Police who had been called to her home to conduct a well-being check. On October 21, the defendant was arrested in Belmont, North Carolina after police there were notified.

These charges are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
 
The prosecutors assigned to this case are Assistant District Attorney John McEvoy and Assistant District Attorney Jessica Noble.