Detroit radio news anchor remembered as 'damn good' reporter, man charged in his death

Laura Fitzgerald, Port Huron Times Herald
·4 min read
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WWJ Newsradio 950's Jim Matthews was tragically killed Friday afternoon in Chesterfield Township. Jim worked as the overnight news anchor for nearly seven years. He would often talk to co-workers about his children and his love for them and their adventures at school.
WWJ Newsradio 950's Jim Matthews was tragically killed Friday afternoon in Chesterfield Township. Jim worked as the overnight news anchor for nearly seven years. He would often talk to co-workers about his children and his love for them and their adventures at school.

PORT HURON, Mich. – Colleagues and loved ones of a former Port Huron radio reporter are remembering him as a passionate journalist and devoted father, and a man has been charged in his death.

Jim Matthews, who was killed at his Chesterfield Township home on Friday in a suspected attempted murder-suicide, worked first as a radio disc jockey for WSAQ and then as a news reporter for WPHM from roughly 2000 to 2015, according to several of his colleagues at the radio station.

At the time of his death, Matthews had worked in the Detroit market for about seven years as an overnight anchor for WWJ Newsradio 950.

Matthews' Radio First colleagues described him as calm, laid-back and the consummate professional. Once he moved over to news, he covered county commissioners and city council meetings.

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Bill Gilmer, Matthews' former supervisor at Radio First, said Matthews was an honest, good reporter, and he knew he could always depend on him for a quality story.

"He was good, damn good," Gilmer said.

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Matthews was thorough in his reporting and was well-known and well-respected among local officials. He cared about his community, and was passionate about radio, said WPHM morning show host Paul Miller.

"He was always very helpful, always went the extra mile, very conscientious and definitely cared about the community," Miller said. "When you live in a community and you're working in local media and covering local media it's your community and so I think that he really felt that responsibility."

Deidre Murch, who worked with Matthews at Radio First from 2005 to 2011, said he was good at mentoring young reporters and sparking their passion for broadcasting.

She said Matthews was patient with young reporters and helped them learn about the city and its officials. He took the time to go with her to city council meetings and introduce her to sources. He pointed out what she was doing well and gave her areas to improve.

Matthews made news fun, such as when he trained Murch on how to write her first news story. Matthews had a good sense of humor, and often left encouraging and funny notes with the assigned tasks for the day, Murch said.

"That made a difference," Murch said. "That made my day better."

Even after Murch left the radio station, the two remained friends. Murch said Matthews never hesitated to reach out and celebrate your accomplishments.

Joe Nicolai, Matthews' brother, said his brother was very intellectual. He developed his passion for reading, music, radio, movies and TV shows from a young age. As a child, Matthews often pretended to be a DJ or took frequent trips to the bookstore.

Nicolai and Matthews' colleagues said Matthews took great pride in his children, and loved to talk about their accomplishments. Nicolai said Matthews often came over to his home for family gatherings at birthdays and holidays.

A GoFundMe was set up for Matthews' funeral expenses and another was set up to benefit Matthews' and his girlfriend's children.

Jim Matthews
Jim Matthews

Man charged with murder after Matthews' death, attack on family

Arthur Williamson, 54, of Pontiac, was charged Monday with first-degree premeditated murder, felony murder, two counts of assault with intent to murder and three counts of unlawful imprisonment. He is being held without bond.

Williamson is accused of killing Matthews, as well as attacking his 35-year-old girlfriend and their two young children at their home in the 33000 block of Bayview Drive. Police said Williamson attempted to kill himself after the attack.

Matthews' girlfriend and their 10-year old son remained hospitalized Tuesday. Their other child, a 5-year-old girl, has been released from the hospital, according to police.

Police described the attack as a domestic situation and said Williamson is known to the family, but declined to define their relationship.

Williamson was scheduled for a probable cause hearing on Oct. 5.

Contact Laura Fitzgerald at (810) 941-7072 or lfitzgeral@gannett.com. The Detroit Free Press contributed to this story.

This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Michigan radio reporter Jim Matthews killed, man charged with murder