New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
Bristol County District Attorney Sam Sutter announced today that Matthew Gumkowski, 33, has been convicted of first degree murder and will serve a sentence of life in prison without parole. Gumkowski was convicted by a jury of his peers in Fall River Superior Court for the killing of 50-year-old Joseph Kilrow of Attleboro.
The jury deliberated for a day and a half, for approximately 10 hours. Superior Court Judge Robert Kane presided over the case.
Gumkowski stood accused of killing Kilrow on July 10, 2011 while the two were living together at a rooming house in Attleboro, MA. Gumkowski is declared to have beaten, strangled, and stabbed Kilrow, before lighting the bed on fire.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Dennis Collins.
“As always my first thoughts are with the family of Joseph Kilrow. This was a brutal, senseless killing and I am heartened that this family received some measure of justice for what happened to their loved one.
I am grateful to the jury for their hard work and wisdom and wish to recognize Assistant District Attorney Dennis Collins for his stellar advocacy on this case. ADA Collins continues to demonstrate why he is one of the best homicide prosecutors in all of Massachusetts.
Victim Witness Advocate Cheryl Robinson is once again to be strongly commended for the critical role she played in assisting the victim’s family and the many witnesses in this case. Finally, I would like to thank the members of the Fall River Police Department and the State Police for their relentless investigative efforts and dedication to a conviction in this case,” District Attorney Sutter said.
