17-year-old Accused of Killing Grandmother, Attacking 4 in Roseville Home
The juvenile suspect arrested near Como Ave. & Snelling Ave. on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022. Submitted
Authorities have released new details on a Roseville homicide and ensuing manhunt for the suspect on Tuesday morning.
The 17-year-old suspect—Matthew Francis Hill—is accused of killing his 88-year-old grandmother and attacking four other family members before fleeing from a home on the 1100 block of Ryan Ave.
Police were called there around 10:20 a.m. for a report of a teenage family member who “went crazy” and was attacking others inside the home.
At the time of the incident on Tuesday, Hill’s three adult siblings, his mother and grandmother were all inside the home.
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Police found 88-year-old Patricia Frances Maslow dead at the scene. She was killed by sharp- and blunt-force injuries, according to a preliminary ruling from the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office. Maslow was Hill’s grandmother, police confirmed Wednesday.
Hill’s 55-year-old mother remains hospitalized due to trauma caused by blunt force, police said. A 23-year-old sibling was treated at the hospital for head trauma caused by blunt force and has since been released. Hill’s two other adult siblings were treated for minor injuries and released at the scene.
Prior to the incident, Roseville police said there had been no police-related calls to the residence and no documented police contacts with the 17-year-old suspect.
TWITTER: Our original thread as the incident unfolded
The case was submitted to the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office for charging review and remains an active investigation, with detectives continuing to investigate a motive.
After Hill fled the home on foot, a shelter-in-place alert was mistakenly sent out to mobile devices in a larger area than intended.
Someone who had received the shelter-in-place alert called 911 to report a juvenile male without shoes running westbound toward the State Fairgrounds and Saint Paul police located Hill, taking him into custody without incident by around 11:15 a.m.
According to a felony juvenile petition filed in Ramsey County court Thursday, when officers arrived at the residence, they saw blood on the exterior of the front door. A female resident allowed officers into the home, where they found another female sitting on a couch in the living room, with head wounds and blood coating her face.
Officers identified the injured female as Hill’s sister. A short time later, Hill’s mother entered the living room with significant injuries to her face and head. She was also bleeding profusely.
Officers found Hill’s grandmother lying in a hospital bed in a rear bedroom on the first floor of the home. She was covered in blood and had obvious puncture wounds to her neck. A multi-tool with the knife blade open was found lying on her chest and she was unresponsive. Officers could not find a pulse and she was later declared deceased.
Detectives responded to the home and observed a bloody, black aluminum baseball bat inside the front door. They also saw a significant amount of blood in the stairwell and hallways. Police issued an area alert with a description of Hill while they searched the home to ensure Hill hadn’t returned to the property.
One of the victims reported she awoke that morning to screaming coming from downstairs. She ran downstairs and saw her sister with a bloodied face struggling with Hill over a baseball bat. The victim was screaming that Hill had gone crazy and to call 911.
While the victim was on the phone with the 911 operator, she saw Hill drop the bat and flee the house. He was described as having a blank stare and not speaking to her or anyone else during the assault.
Hill’s mother said she was upstairs in their home when she heard Patricia Frances Maslow ring the bell she uses when she needs assistance. She responded to the 88-year-old’s room, where Hill reportedly suddenly attacked her.
Hill’s sister reported she was sleeping in her room when she awoke to the sound of her mother and brother yelling in her grandmother’s living area. She went to see what was going on and saw Hill swinging a metal baseball bat, according to the petition. She said Hill attacked her and hit her in the head with the bat multiple times.
After Hill fled the home, and at approximately 11:09 a.m. Saint Paul police found him walking on Stella Street towards Como Avenue. He was wearing pajama shorts, a t-shirt and white socks. His hands were red with dried blood and he had noticeable blood splatter on his face, arms and clothing, the petition said.
Hill complied with officers’ commands and was taken into custody without incident. Apprehending officers noted Hill’s eyes were wide open and glazed over, and that he was seemingly unable to verbally communicate.
Police transported Hill to the Roseville Police Department for an interview and detectives advised him of his Miranda rights, attempting to speak with him. But Hill was reportedly largely nonverbal, staring off in the distance with what a detective described as a ''thousand-yard stare.'' The detective also noted Hill moved his body very little during the hours-long interview.
Hill told the detective that he felt like he was ''going crazy.'' He told investigators that ''going crazy'' was like ''being someone else.” Hill said he did not know who he was and that “who he is changes,” the petition read. When asked if he felt someone else was using his body to commit the murder and assaults, Hill replied ''I’d like to say that it is not me. I’m not very sure who me is.'' When asked if he was saying he didn’t commit the murder and assaults, Hill replied, ''No, I’m not saying that.'' When asked if he felt responsible, Hill replied, ''I think I have to be.''
The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is assisting with the investigation. Police ask anyone with information or video footage related to the case to email police@cityofroseville.com.
Hill was set to make his initial court appearance at the Ramsey County Juvenile and Family Justice Center on Thursday afternoon. A booking photo is not yet available.
“This is a heartbreaking case. We will do everything in our power to support this family’s healing as it proceeds through our justice system. A very special thank you to the first responders in the Roseville law enforcement community for their work these past few days,” Ramsey County Attorney John Choi said in a written statement.
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