Winchester Man Indicted For The Murder Of His Mother

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

Matthew McAveeney, 46, of Winchester, has been indicted by a Middlesex County Superior Court Grand Jury on charges of murder, assault and battery on a person 60 years of age or older, and cruelty to animals (2 counts). 

The defendant is scheduled to be arraigned in Middlesex Superior Court in Woburn on Monday, December 1.  He is being held without bail.

“The death of Barbara McAveeney was a crime of violence and extreme brutality,” District Attorney Ryan said. “Her family, friends, and the community of Winchester are still grieving her loss which is compounded by the facts of the case, that her own son allegedly was her killer.”

According to authorities, Matthew McAveeney allegedly beat his mother to death inside her apartment and then he left the state. The woman’s body was discovered on 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.  The Victim Witness Advocate is Lori Riccio.