I never wanted to hurt myself before, she said, going on to say that she's never handled a gun, nor shot one. The dispatch operator notified Matthew on Facebook, Browning says. Based on that acknowledgement, The GRIP asked if it would not alleviate legal concerns pertaining to the chain of custody, and furthermore, why Boynton was not also charged with theft. Then-Griffin Police officer Matthew Boynton was arrested on July 28, 2017 for giving a false statement to his own department about having possession of a gym bag full of clothes, underwear. Click here for "Trigger: The Last Word" | And we talk to Jessica Boynton again here: "Trigger: Free as a Bird" | Anda story when the officer was arrested and kicked offthe force (but not for shooting his wife ). The ceiling fan circles on high speed. Once the scene is secure, investigator Misty Gresham checks on Tollin, who's sleeping, and Tyler, who is awake and still crying in his cribboth unharmed. Jessica advised me that around 4.15.2016, when she and her ex-husband, Matthew Boynton, separated, he took several things that belongs to her without her permission, McCune reported. At the time of the shooting Jessica was looking to make a new start for herself and two young sons. After three weeks, she woke up. That's what Jessica and Matthew Boynton thought would happen when they said "I do.". There are a lot of questions that I would love to have answered. John Hayesto turn in many articles of womens clothing and other personal property including an orthodontic retainer. This screams cover up. A woman who lived across from the couple, who works with law enforcement, agreed to a Crime Watch Daily interview if we protect her identity. They discover two shell casings and two bullet holes in the closet wall. Jessica has given Will every piece of evidence in her case, including that divorce diary. One of those bullets went through the roof, the other lodged into the baby's bedroom wall. They had Tollin soon after, and were married on Oct. 24, 2015. To text back long story I'll tell you later.. If the phone was found by the GBI in the kitchenif the phone is on police body camera footage sitting on the counter by the microwave, and he was outside never returning insidehow is it possible for Matthew to text his girlfriend, while he's calling in shots fired while outside of the apartment? The next action noted in the case occurred nearly two months later. RE-open the case Georgia!!!!!! Family and friends believe, in fact, they were married far too young. It's like some of my family they hear all these people say, 'Oh I think he did it and it was planned.' But according to Mathews, that was not the last number dialed, so it could not have just been a redial accidently called through the evidence bag. nd police notify Jessica's family that she has died. I'll be back there in about two minutes. How did Jessica react when she saw those messages? He reads another text from his girlfriend, while driving 90 mph. Jessica's two boys, Tollin, 2, and baby Tyler, are sound asleep in their rooms. As he drove he received a text message from Jessica's phone. The remaining items such as a hope chest, clothing and other miscellaneous items were returned to Jessica. She had a job interview and it was going to be her first step to freedom. A lot, she said, doesnt add up, especially since, she said, she had reason to live. Jessica Boynton was found shot in the closet with her. In it, she logs Matthew Boynton's every move, including his unexplained disappearances with their two boys. And Sanders was beyond fascinated by this one. One, investigators said penetrated Jessica's head and the other the wall. She told the agent, they were at home when they argued about his mistress and the photo that Jessica found on his phone that night. She rebukes the text message that came from her phone to Matthew's that night and said she didn't have a lock on her phone, so anyone could've sent it. Matthew Boynton, 20, discovered his wife Jessica, 19, lying in a pool of blood in a closet. What! Jessica's alive, but barely. I didn't try to wash my hands, anything, because I knew GSR and all that would be involved.. Both Jessica and Matthew reportedly want a divorce. If you play with it a little bit, it's not hard.. They're saying it was self-inflicted, she said. Matthew sends another text to his mistress, a Spalding County dispatcher, Give me a few. I never wanted to hurt myself before, she said, going on to say that shes never handled a gun, nor shot one. I would have said, I can't do this anymore, comma, take care of Tolin and Tyler, period. I would have said, suicidal not suicide thoughts.. She's having suicidal thoughts. But Jessica's trauma surgeon, a 30-year veteran in the field, had a few thoughts of his own about what could have happened and what likely did not happen that night. They wanted me to come back Friday for orientation for the job, she said. This is abuse of power. Because she owned the retainer prior to her marriage, it would not be considered community property. For the next three and a half weeks, Jessica remains in a coma with a traumatic brain injurytubes protruding from her brain to alleviate pressure and fluid. I was looking for a job and I finally found one. Matthew Boynton allegedly deprived ex-wife Jessica Lester of her belongings and lied to the authorities about doing so, Griffin police Lt. Michael Natale said in a statement. I just came up the stairs, two rounds be advised I smell gun smoke, and I cant get an answer at the door, he says out of breath and panicked. HERE IS THE NEWS STORY OF THE SHOOTING.. https://www.11alive.com/article/news/investigations/trigger-over-and-out/85-8ab82530-da07-492b-9a3c-c20d5e7f50b3. I'm sure as you've heard, I'm getting a divorce. Matthew sends another text to his girlfriend, a Spalding County dispatcher, Give me a few. If America is really a first-world country, it will enact legislation that takes this issue seriously, and fund more studies and programs to preventing domestic violence and identifying and protecting victims. Matthew claims they returned home just after 11 p.m. His proof? Inside the closet they also discover Jessica's red "divorce diary." "Most people would not view it as such, I don't believe," said Sheila Mathews. The GBI is a joke as well GSW, possible to the head. Especially because of my children. Updated: 11:14 PM EDT July 28, 2017. She thinks he found it before the incident. The shooting occurred on the evening of April 14, 2016. A body-cam captures her inconsolable baby boy in the arms of an officer. Jessica Boynton, once declared dead, is alive and talking. The court ruled in his favor, giving him custody, and granting Jessica once-weeklysupervised visitation. He calls out for Jessica, but no answer. GBI/Griffin Police Dept. Boynton in January denied being in possession of any of Lesters personal property. I just came up the stairs, two rounds be advised I smell gun smoke, and I can't get an answer at the door, he says out of breath and panicked. I would have said, 'suicidal' not 'suicide thoughts.'. provided images. When facts are wrong, evidence altered to fit theories and threats made, how does the GBI remain the last word on the case? He's meeting his buddy at the local Waffle House. "I would want to know how he did it and how does he live with himself every day knowing that he did something like this," said Jessica. He later tells investigators that he heard Tyler crying, and then, POP-POP!, Jones advises Matthew over the radio, Stay outside. [I miss] getting to see them every day and getting to watch them grow more and more into the boys and men that they're going to be someday, Jessica said sobbing. And they said yes," the neighbor said. Matthew Boynton allegedly deprived ex-wife Jessica Lester of her belongings and lied to the authorities about doing so, Griffin police Lt. Michael Natale said in a statement. "That was when approximately 24 minutes into the conversation, his demeanor changed and everything flipped," she recalled. If not, get on a plane and go HOME.". Griffin Police officer Matthew Boynton was arrested and taken to the Spalding County Jail on multiple charges. It's like I tell them, they make it twice as bad because I'm a cop, Matthew said. Yes, I didn't have time, you know with everything going on, I didn't think anything about getting any other clothes, so I didn't know if y'all would want these or not. For the wife of a Georgia police officer, answering that question is unfortunately turning out not to be so simple. "She's like, 'This is exactly what I need to get my divorce from him.'". Running across the parking lot and up the stairs, responding officers, Keys, Jones and Gresham head toward the apartment. Her ex-husband and former Griffin police officer Matthew Boynton was investigated in the case, but was only charged with making . Clearly we touched a nerve in Griffin, but we're not about to be scared off. And, she said, she wouldn't have told him that she loved him. I can't even get it out of its case, she replied. When they finally shove their way in, tragic heartbreak is lying in front of them. GBI agents, however, have closed her case. I had a friend who was a girl, or is a girl, he answers, further admitting that the relationship had become sexual. When asked if Boynton had explained why he allegedly kept his ex-wifes belongings, Yates said, No. And based on the totality of circumstances, all the facts and circumstances, all the forensics, and the conclusion of the case, as well as the GBI's and the district attorney's recommendation, is no, he did not cause her injuries, Yates concluded in an interview with 11Alive for"Trigger: Who shot the officer's wife.". Yeah, if we've got to get the clothes, obviously we'll bring you back up to the apartment for you to get some clothes obviously, says the agent. With dark, latex gloves on, an officer kneels down and touches her neck with his fingers. His flashlights beam reveals a smiling family of four. I mean he might have grabbed my arm before, but I don't think he would intentionally do anything to hurt mebut like I said, he's changed so much here, lately, she said. "Well I don't know. I believe I just heard a shot fired coming from my residence. That is not a reaction that I can relate to.". After getting Matthew's phone records, Sanders discovers during that same time Matthew was making calls to 911, he was texting his mistress. How did his phone get in there and how was there activity on his phone if he was not in the kitchen with his phone?" Cops finally reach that locked closet door. She says there were pages missing. Lester recovered from the shooting but doesn't remember any of it. Which is very off that this happened, because I never, ever had any thoughts like this before. She just said that she's been experiencing suicidal thoughts right now, she told me to take care of the boys. However, he did not confirm that sequence. Minutes later, at around 10:45 p.m., Jessica storms out. Her head wound has soaked into the green and white pillow her head is resting onher blood is contained to that one stain and a few nearby drops. Matthew's fellow officers try to shield him from the sight of his gravely injured wife. And its assigned to Matthew. The shooting occurred on the evening of April 14, 2016. At the time of the shooting Jessica was looking to make a new start for herself and two young sons. It could have a negative effect on them, but those things have to be dealt with on a case by case basis. He tells Trammel that he was in the shower, using his cell phone, when Jessica walked into the bathroom, pulled the shower curtain back and snatched his cell phone. He has been charged with false statements and writings and violating his oath of office. On May 11, Will Sanders met withYancy and Sgt. The next door neighbor interview was conducted after Matthew returned to full duty. He's a truck driver. But here's the thing that has everyone shaking their heads: In the bureau's final report, dated months after Jessica was released from the hospital, they still declare Jessica dead. He assigns another officer to standby at the door until the rest of the apartment is cleared. . "The Walmart surveillance camera shows that they did exit the building together, and it does show her re-entering and, it shows her leaving again later," said Sheila Mathews. [Im] gonna have to kick that door in Jones relays to the other officers standing on the other side of the closet, barreling through it in just two swift and deliberate kicks. Did he cause his estranged spouse's injury? "I hope she didn't shoot my kids," he says to one officer. However, this does not surprise me how they covered this up and they wonder why good citizens dont come forward when a crime takes place.HUMMMMM, https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/10/07/what-if-your-abusive-husband-is-a-cop. She's like a sister to me, Browning says, her voice quivering. But she doesn't buy it, especially since her head was perfectly laid on a pillow, she said after watching the bodycam footage. Domestic violence has always been a precursor to violence in other areas. I don't know, he said. The notification was made following an April 15, 2016, shooting incident - ruled by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to be a suicide attempt - at the home of Jessica Boynton and her now-estranged husband, Griffin Police Department Officer Matthew Boynton. Yancy also requested that Boynton write a statement pertaining to the allegation. Two shots have been fired from her husbands service weapon. They hit the top of the stairs knowing somebody's got a gun. "I was scared to death that she would shoot me and then kill herself," Matthew tells investigators. He grabs his police radio, stationed and charging on top of the white microwave in the kitchen, and leaves his phone on the counter. Did she try to kill herself or shoot herself in the head? The first bullet went upward at 54-degree angle. Matthew Boynton allegedly deprived ex-wife Jessica Lester of her belongings and lied to the authorities about doing so, Griffin police Lt. Michael Natale said in a statement. The police officer's wife was found with a bullet to the head, lying in their closet. "I think it was in the heat of the moment, he was angry with me. "He didn't know if her intent was to kill their child, kill him and then commit suicide," said Sheila. Until recently, Matthew's grandfather, Wendell Beam, reigned as Spalding County sheriff. "Well listen, if you're going to start quoting, you gonna start recording these things, you need to let me know ahead of time before you do, before I'm starting answering questions," DeMarco ordered the reporter. Her bright blues eyes glisten as they well with emotion. According to Sanders, these items were obtained from a woman who contacted him and claimed to be Boyntons girlfriend. Get him downstairs, one of the officers whispers to another. He calls out for Jessica, but no answer. They call in Spalding County Sheriff Wendell Beam, who happens to be Matthew's grandfather, along with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. With the suicidal text message and Jessica's DNA found on her husband's gun, less than a month after her hospital bed interview, Matthew was verbally cleared by the GBI, according to the chief, and as of June 6, Matthew returned to full duty with a new service weapon on his hip. Officer Boynton was responding to an accident, and when he returned to his cruiser, we were waiting, armed with questions. Matthew Boynton along with Lee Boynton, Josh Guthrie and Courtney Callaway moved all of my personal belongings from the residence. Security camera captures the family walking in around 10:15 p.m. No bullet entered her body anywhere. They wanted me to come back Friday for orientation for the job, she said. "He never re-entered the apartment after that point," said Sheila. A lot, she said, doesn't add up. The July 29 arrest of former Griffin Police Department Officer Matthew Boynton stemmed from a theft report filed Dec. 19, 2016, by his former wife, Jessica Lester. Jones approaches Matthew to find out what happened. Boynton: Can you please dispatch a unit out to my location, in reference to my wife? It's the second infidelity in their relationshipJessica admitted to cheating on him before they were married. Most of the cases that he would have made or would be involved in would also have, or should have, body worn camera video, car video, things of that nature, so the fact that his statement to us was compromised would not necessarily taint everything else. But long hours on the force took its toll on his marriage. GRIFFIN, Ga. Standing inside her closet, wearing tan slippers adorned with fur, black yoga pants and a red T-shirt, Jessica Boynton contemplates what to wear. GBI didn't report finding any blood spatter on the closet wall. WHERE THE FUCK ARE THE FBI???????? Despite Jessica Boynton's fiery allegations, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation closed her case, clearing Matthew to return to work. She found a photo on Snapchat of another woman wearing nothing but a towel, with the caption: Shower time.. She spoke to the GBI, from her hospital bed. "He believes that her injuries were consistent with blunt-force trauma," said Sheila Mathews. We heard something and said 'what was that', recalls Browning. "Very explicit conversation," said the neighbor. It's locked. My kids are at home with her, so I'm trying to hurry up and get back there., I'm driving. "I'm guessing Matthew," said Jessica. "Her hands appeared to be pristine, but also he noted that she had no gunpowder burns.". But Griffin Police Chief Michael Yates said, Officer Boynton was not the shooter and trusts the investigations outcome. A lot of times its two or three or more days, Yates said. $5 plus $5 parking. Matthew loved being part of the brotherhood. "It doesn't sound like anything I would say," said Jessica Boynton. She had always kept it hidden, but now, there it is for everyone to see. Jones shouts as he travels deeper insidehis weapon drawn. "I don't really know what happened in the closet, I just know that I did not try to kill myself," said Jessica Boynton. Furthermore, he said, it's his observation that self-inflicted gunshot wounds are very unusual among women. Her complaint, which she checked on, was never filed. If I just would have left my f**king duty belt in the car.. "Matthew. I figured out what happened. Reliving his steps inside the apartment after he heard gunshots fired, he says, My whole upper body went numb. Despite their problems, Matthew tells investigators he still loved Jessica and the boys, and he offers an explanation for why he didn't run in the apartment that terrible night to save them. Honestly, I have no idea. The report states Matthew left Walmart without Jessica. That bullet ends up toward the top left of the closet. Agent DeMarco approaches Meagan Browning, who's joined by Eric Kshywonis, at 61 Ashford Waythe apartment just downstairs from Jessica and Matthew. No bullet fragments were recovered from her head. Everything, he says, led to him wanting out of the marriage. "It's believed that Jessica entered the closet, closed the door, locked it, turned with her back to the door facing the back wall of the closet, that she held the gun to her head, pulled the trigger," said Sheila. It's possible, but I mean it's very doubtful, because he's never hurt me before. Her shoulder-length, blonde hair was saturated in crimson. Its so obvious a coverup. Everybody clear out, says Jones, who has Keys call for an EMT. No one may have ever done anything to question this case again if not for Will Sanders. "I left the location, I'm back en route, I'm on Carver Road right now. I didn't bring any other ones with me. And the second bullet went up at 25-degree upward angle 1'10 off the floor. provided images. This is not the first time I have had suicide thoughts. She agreed to provide those items to Sanders, who then turned them in to the Griffin Police Department. Yes, for an article, just to make sure I get quotes proper.". A key piece of evidence was photographed inside the kitchen after officers arrived on the scene. The panicked cop grabs his police radio and runs outside to make the frantic call to dispatch. Matthew admits to having an affair. As she continues to tinker with clothes, she notices that her red and black composition notebook, which is usually carefully tucked under a pile of clothes inside her closet, has been left on top of the clothes. Her marriage had been crumbling, and she and her husband of six months Matthew Boynton, 20 . At that time, the city of Griffin reported the investigation was ongoing and was not expected to be completed for another month to six weeks. The air is thick with the trepidation, as officers approach the locked closet. Did investigators look for a blunt object? Boynton was placed on administrative leave Thursday, July 28, and the Chief said his intent was to terminate the officer, but Boynton resigned before that process could be completed. The agent asked her if she had ever held her husbands service weapon. He said that she was so distraught that she was doubled over, and he said that she stood, closed the door in his face and then at that point he went ahead and left.". But many believe Jessica holds the only key as to what really happened inside that closet. Emphasis on evidence. But Yates told 11Alive, Matthew was not the shooter and trusts the investigation's outcome. I love you and the boys.". Less than a month after her hospital-bed interview, Matthew was verbally cleared by the GBI, according to his chief. "Nobody ever asked him about why he changed clothes," said Sanders. "And I talked to the guy and was like, 'Look man, you know, can you just be honest with me? When the officers pull Jessica's body out of the closet, they find Matthew's gun right underneath her, a .40-caliber Glock. I mean you can't prove that," DeMarco. Jessica was a blushing bride, excited to spend the rest of her life with the man she loved. OMG this is a total disgrace to the Uniform.I have looked over several different articles and maybe im missing something here but, in all that i had seen it states that he was questioned in his wifes shooting what the hell folks.SHE WAS NOT SHOT!!!!! At that exact point the interviewing officer detected something fishy, forced him to stop giving himself away and ended the interview and therefore night of investigation. I mean he might have grabbed my arm before, but I don't think he would intentionally do anything to hurt mebut like I said, he's changed so much here, lately, she said. Jessica Lester-Boyntons property has already previously been returned to her by my step dad (Charles McDaniel Jr.) shortly after Jessica got out of the hospital.