Eugene F. Matthews
Eugene F. Matthews
Eugene Matthews is an 83 year-old Korean War Veteran well-known in the Manatee County, Florida. [3]
Background
Photo of Eugene.
Matthews is a legend around the parts of Manatee County as the entire town of Parrish know about him for the front of his property has signs warning trespassers they will be shot instead of a 911 call. The Sheriff's office in particular have a long history with Matthews that dates all the way back to 1989 on weapons chargers initially. [2]
In 1991, he filed a conspiracy and unlawful arrest lawsuit against the sheriff's office for his unjustly arrest in two years prior.
He was awarded $300,000, yet some jurors lied on their questionnaire forms so the verdict was thrown out.
Years later, in 1999, Matthews and the Sheriff's office settled the case for $110,000, which Matthews split with his attorney.
In the evening of January 10th, 2017, at around 7 p.m., Rebecca Rawson, her brother-in-law Rodney Rawson, and her daughter Kathryn, together inside the same vehicle drove up to 12900 block of Pritchart Road in Parrish, the property of Matthews. The three of them were there to pick up their dog, who also belonged to Rebecca's late husband who had passed away a week before. [3]
According to testimonies and witness accounts, Rodney walked up to the home and knocked on the front door.
Matthews' girlfriend, Juanita Stills, answered the door, Rodney called for the dog, "Bart", took him, and began to walk away.
Matthews then came out from within the house with an armed handgun and started shooting.
He shot three bullets as the Rawson's were quickly leaving the premises.
One of the shots struck Rebecca Rawson in the face.
Matthews was arrested and has been charged with second degree murder, and more charges could be coming.
He agreed to no bond.
Matthews’ family said he acted in self-defense, claiming that the Rawson family had come barreling through the gated and fenced entrance to the property and kicked down the front door.
But the sheriff’s office said that account contradicts the eyewitness statements and the evidence from the scene.
Eugene was a close friend of Rebecca Rawson's late husband and claimed that the dog was passed down by her husband to Eugene.