Winchester Man Sentenced To Life Without Parole In Mother's Murder
WOBURN (CBS) -- A Winchester man pleaded guilty to murdering his mother Friday in Middlesex Superior Court and was sentenced to life without parole, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan's office said Friday.
Matthew McAveeny, 48, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, assault and battery on a person over the age of 60, and two counts of animal cruelty.
Prosecutors said McAveeny killed his 70-year-old mother, Barbara McAveeny, in October 2014 in her Winchester apartment. He was captured in North Carolina after a week-long manhunt.
"With today's plea Matthew McAveeney has taken responsibility for brutally beating his mother to death before fleeing the state," District Attorney Ryan said in a statement. "We are grateful to all the law enforcement agencies that worked together to bring the defendant into custody and to return him to Massachusetts and we hope that today's plea brings some closure to the friends and loved ones of Barbara McAveeney."