UMass Amherst Employee Charged With Killing Wife, Also UMass Amherst Employee

AMHERST, MA — An employee of the University of Massachusetts Amherst was arrested and charged with killing his wife, who was also an employee of the university, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said in a media release.

Jeffrey MacDonald, 36, was arraigned Thursday morning on a charge of murder in connection with the slaying of his wife, the release said.

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MacDonald, a resident of Willbraham, pleaded not guilty to one charge of murder and one charge of assault and battery upon a police officer, according to the release.

MacDonald killed his wife the at Hotel UMass Wednesday evening, the release said.

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The website OpenPayrolls list only one 36-year-old Jeffrey MacDonald working at UMass Amherst. He was employed as a cook, according to the site.

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UMass Amherst Chancellor Javier Reyes sent an email to the campus community addressing the killing.

"It is with deep sadness that I share that last night, the University of Massachusetts Police Department and the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office responded to a suspected homicide of a UMass Amherst staff member at the UMass Campus Center Hotel," Reyes said in the email.

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"I want to acknowledge that this is heartbreaking and deeply unsettling news for our campus," Reyes said. "Our thoughts are with those affected, including the families, friends, and colleagues of the individuals involved."

Judge Rebecca Michaels ordered MacDonald held without bail and continued the case to May 12.

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