Matthew Lucas, charged with murder in death of Heidi Chase in Freetown, held without bail
FREETOWN - A Freetown man accused of killing his girlfriend has been charged with murder.
Police were called to a home on Chace Road around 4:30 a.m. Wednesday and found 44-year-old Heidi Chase dead. Investigators said they believed the suspect was 54-year-old Matthew Lucas, who lived with Chase in the home.
About four hours later, they say they found Lucas about a half-a-mile away, hiding in a shed on Burns Lane. He was arrested and charged with murder. Police said the shed belongs to someone Lucas knows.
Lucas was ordered held without bail following his arraignment in Fall River District Court.
Prosecutors said a family member found Chase suffering from "significant trauma to her face" and police found a hammer covered in blood nearby. Lucase was allegedly covered in blood in the shed when police found her.
Lucas is next due in court October 20 for a pretrial hearing.
"Just in shock that that could happen in this small town. Yeah, it's very sad," school bus driver Donna Allen told WBZ-TV. She said police were "flying up and down the roads and we knew something big was going on."
"Very relieved. Very relieved, but just very sad that it all had to happen," Allen said.
"Sad. Disturbing. Heartbreaking for the family," school bus driver Cindy Bernier told WBZ. "It was just scary because the school is right up the street you know and we heard they were looking for someone. First thing you think about is the schools."