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Award-winning chef faces murder charge after wife found dead on campus
The suspect also faces charges for allegedly assaulting a responding police officer
An award-winning chef at the University of Massachusetts Amherst has been charged with murder after the death of his wife inside a campus hotel room, authorities said.
Hotel UMass employee Jeffrey MacDonald, 36, of Wilbraham, Massachusetts, was arraigned on April 23 in Eastern Hampshire District Court on one count of murder and one count of assault and battery on a police officer, according to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office. He pleaded not guilty and was ordered held without bail.
Officials say MacDonald and his wife both worked at UMass Amherst at the time of the incident.
Authorities said officers were called to the hotel on Wednesday evening at approximately 7:42 p.m. for a reported emergency.
According to a police report cited by CBS Boston, MacDonald allegedly threw objects at responding officers upon their arrival, striking a UMass police officer in the face.
Inside the hotel room, police discovered a woman dead with injuries consistent with what investigators described as “a violent assault.”
Authorities further allege that MacDonald told police he had “intentionally beaten” his wife using his hands, feet, and other blunt objects, and that it was his intent to kill her.
MacDonald has also been ordered to undergo a competency evaluation to determine whether he is fit to stand trial. His next court appearance is scheduled for May 12.
The case remains under active investigation by the UMass Amherst Police Department, the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office, and the Massachusetts Crime Scene Services Section. The official cause of death will be determined by the state medical examiner.
In a message to the university community, UMass Amherst Chancellor Javier Reyes called the incident “heartbreaking and deeply unsettling,” adding that counseling services have been made available to students, faculty, and staff.
He also said that while details remain limited, there is no ongoing threat to campus safety.
MacDonald had previously received national recognition for his culinary work. In 2025, he was named “Chef of the Year” by the American Culinary Federation and described the honor at the time as a major milestone in his career.
