Sunday 25 September 2022 05:41 PM Son of Michigan news anchor killed in 'murder-suicide attempt' is in critical ... trends now

The son of Michigan news anchor slain in alleged murder-suicide attempt by a 'family friend' was in critical condition following brain and ear surgery after being being beaten and tied when he tried to fight his father's killer. 

Police said WWJ950's overnight anchor, Jim Matthews, 57, invited a 'frequent visitor' to his Chesterfield Township home outside Detroit.   

Shortly thereafter, police were called to the residence, and found Matthews dead and his 35-year-old girlfriend, Nichole Guertin, seriously injured, having been stabbed multiple times.

Their 10-year-old son, Hunter, was found tied up in a closet suffering from head trauma. Police said the boy was brutalized after he tried fighting off the murderer, who is in the hospital and has yet to be named.  

Hunter was promptly hospitalized, where he underwent brain and ear surgery and is currently sedated as he 'goes through the biggest challenge he has yet to face,' his aunt, Ashley Quigley, said. 

Quigley, who described the attack on her sister's family as 'vicious' and 'needless,' has started a GoFundMe page to support her family as she is also taking in her neice, Rosie, 5, who suffered less serious injuries in the incident.   

Guertin, Matthew's live-in girlfriend, was also critically injured in the attack, cops said, after escaping the horrific scene with her and Matthews' daughter.

Stabbed multiple times and leaving her older child behind, the woman was able to escape the house with the young girl and flag down a driver to call police, despite reportedly being bound and gagged.

Upon arriving at the residence, authorities also found the 54-year-old male suspect, overdosing on heroin and suffering from self-inflicted wounds in the home's basement. 

The suspect was then resuscitated by officials with the prescription narcotic Narcan, and was taken into police custody. 

Chesterfield Police said the investigation was still ongoing.  

He remains hospitalized and is in stable condition, but faces a litany of charges for the assault - for which cops have yet to glean a motive. 

Cops noted that the unidentified attacker had been an acquaintance of the family as well as frequent visitor of the residence, and had been invited inside the home before carrying out the attack, police said.

The sudden tragedy has since left locals and the Detroit news scene reeling as they mourn the late anchor, who spent nearly seven years as the radio station's overnight news anchor.   

The late broadcaster was remembered by his longtime employer as a devoted and dependable family man who was passionate about reporting the news throughout his time with the network.

'He would often talk to co-workers about his children and his love for them and their adventures at school,' the radio station wrote.

'He was a consummate professional and was dedicated to WWJ and the broadcasting industry. He loved delivering the latest news to his listeners.'

The station added that 'there have been many tears shed in our newsroom' in the wake of Matthews' sudden death, and that 'our thoughts and prayers go out to Jim's family and friends.'

Troublingly, many of Matthews' colleague's learned of his passing live on air, forced to anchor Jackie Paige report the then breaking incident to thousands of daytime listeners.