That phone never got back into the officer's hand. My kids are at home with her, so I'm trying to hurry up and get back there., I'm driving. Sanders wants to know how Matthew was texting his mistress from this very phone if he never reentered the apartment. Does Jessica know whether the cops ever swabbed her hands? However, the GBIs own photographs, search warrant and evidence log all corroborate that the officers phone was on the kitchen counter after Matthew had already left the apartment. Ashamed the FBI hasnt picked up on this yet . "He does report an incident that would be considered domestic violence, that she was poking him in the chest with her finger," said Sheila Mathews. The GRIP has reported extensively on seeming inconsistencies and irregularities in that GBI investigation. The shooting occurred on the evening of April 14, 2016. Video shot outside in the parking lot shows Jessica getting in a black truck with Matthew and the kids, then leaving. This, Matthew says to Trammel, is the precursor to an argument the couple also had at Walmart later that night, just after 10 p.m. Once outside, he tells Trammel Jessica refuses to get into the car to go hometelling him she would find another way home and walked back into Walmart. It's a question 11Alive investigators asked a few months ago, when Griffin Police Officer Matthew Boynton's wife, Jessica, allegedly shot herself in the head with his service weapon,. Immediately following that flip, Mathews said, DeMarco asked if she was recording their conversation. Geez, im no cop , no investigator and know absolutely nothing on how investigations are even done but if the doctors say she wasnt shot what more do they need..that little punk got away with it.please tell me im missing a story and he has been arrested for the attempted murder of his wife.please.and please tell me that every stupid ass cop that had any involvement with this case is no longer a cop..oh and his Grandpa, well i think he needs a little jail rehabilitation as well..i could go on and on, but obviously they wouldnt understand anyway..what a disgrace to all REAL POLICE OFFICERS, https://the-grip.net/2016/10/18/gbi-completes-boynton-investigation-requested-by-gpd/ this says she was SHOT!!! Officer Adam Trammel reports to a non-emergency call from the Boynton residence at Ashford Place on Ashford Way, in Griffin, Ga. Jessica's hair is so matted with blood no one can find the actual gunshot wound to stop the bleeding. She's like 'I got you where I want you and you're gonna go down for this,' and he pulls his gun out and she runs into the closet to hide, and instead of shooting her, he hits her on the head with a baton," said the neighbor. But did something else happen that spring night in 2016? A previous study found 41% of police admitted to being abusive to their spouses. 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. For the wife of a Georgia police officer, answering that question is unfortunately turning out not to be so simple. McCune also had Lester write a victims statement. nd police notify Jessicas family that she has died. Bring the little ones for a story every Saturday morning at 11 a.m. to hear Sam's favorite tales. There's no way I could have shot myself in the top of the head and not kill myself. Hahaha you about have me a heart attack freak!! But Griffin Police Chief Michael Yates said, Officer Boynton was not the shooter and trusts the investigations outcome. Since his bodycam wasn't charged, it doesn't record this call. Above Jessica, pinned to the wall, is a large black letter B for Boynton. But this wasn't the end of Jessica's story, rather a new beginningbut not the one she was hoping for. The shooting occurred on the evening of April 14, 2016. I think it just kind of happened. "I know what happened," said the unidentified neighbor. After three weeks, she woke up. They're re slit open while her head flops from side to side on the beige carpet, as one female EMS works on her. By June 6, Matthew returned to full duty with a new service weapon in his holster. Thats what we had to establish, Yates confirmed. I'm prior military so to me it sounded like a gunshot, he tells DeMarco. Its so obvious a coverup. Two shots have been fired from her husbands service weapon. Mass shooters. This chilling police body camera footage shows the moment a cop's wife was found barely alive suffering from a gunshot wound to her head. "I don't really know what happened in the closet, I just know that I did not try to kill myself," said Jessica Boynton. It appears she's been shot in the head. Matthew, grandson of then-sheriff of Spalding County, texts a fellow Griffin Police officer. When asked if Boynton had explained why he allegedly kept his ex-wifes belongings, Yates said, No. 478-993-3053. Man, look, she's still breathing. I can't even get it out of its case, she replied. (He resigned) about the time they brought him in. Griffin Police Department Officer Matthew Boynton has been arrested and charged with two felonies. the GBI agent posed a return question. According to the report, GBI investigators never conducted a re-canvass of the apartment complex, and did not talk with the immediate next door neighbor for four and a half months, despite reports from other residents that they heard a single gunshot hours earlier than the officers call claiming shots had been fired. "Well I don't know. Get him downstairs, one of the officers whispers to another. They're saying it was self-inflicted, she said. It could have been simply that um, all his, he left his stuff there. He lied about the lock then he says he kept his gun in there hmmm. Did he cause his estranged spouse's injury? "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. 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. One of her aunts is all over Facebook., GBI agent said, The bullet didn't even enter the skull. "I saw a lot of things change after time. 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. Womens clothing items and an orthodontic retainer turned in to the Griffin Police Department by Will Sanders has been established to have belonged to Jessica Lester, the former wife of Matthew Boynton. "The second shot that was fired, it entered the back wall of the closet approximately a foot, no more than a foot off the ground. Jessica's alive, but barely. She's breathing, but unresponsive. Matthew says that he told Jessica, I'm not happy anymore and I can't. 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 hope she didn't shoot my kids," he says to one officer. I said 'Is she still alive?' "Be advised I smell gunsmoke, and I can't get an answer to the door," Boynton says on the call. Jones eyes a small child sleeping on a bottom bunk bed in the back bedroom. She says under the helm of Wendell Beam, the sheriff's department had a reputation for protecting its own. What you have from a close range press contact wound is high-velocity blood spatter, which is very small, and it might not be very visible with the naked eye, or easily visible from photographs. No. I was at Atlanta Medical Center for a month. Yes, for an article, just to make sure I get quotes proper.". And they said yes. The other problem: she said she didn't know how to get his gun out of his holsternor has she ever held or shot a gun. There's so many useless words thrown in there, then there's so many words left out, she said. The GBI is a joke as well Matthew, 20, quickly called 911 and said he had received an alarming text message from his wife, claiming she was going to commit suicide, cops said. So Crime Watch Daily went out and got one of the best in the business. Nearly four years later, questions persist about what happened to the young. "I think I was hit over the head with something.". Id be afraid to luve in that town until that poluce brotherhood is abolished. Her shoulder-length, blonde hair was saturated in crimson. This activity on his cell phone had to have taken place inside the kitchen inside his apartment," Mathews said to DeMarco in a recorded phone conversation. "I believe I just heard a shot fired coming from my residence. Sanders says there are a few things that really stand out: The red sweatshirt Matthew offered police to test for gunshot residue. 'We're not going to do this in Georgia anymore' | Prosecutor fighting to stop animal abuse, NASCAR star Chase Elliott hurts leg in snowboarding accident, Forecast | Cooler air moving in for the weekend, Metro Atlanta, north Georgia hit with widespread damage after storms produce powerful winds, Who shot the officer's wife? Thank God she fought and he was in there with her. Making his way outside, he calls for assistance over his radio. "Being in the closet," said Jessica. "That was when approximately 24 minutes into the conversation, his demeanor changed and everything flipped," she recalled. "The only thing that I can tell you is that Matthew Boynton's account of events are not correct.". He assigns another officer to standby at the door until the rest of the apartment is cleared. "I think what happened after they come home from Walmart, Jessica and Matthew got into an argument. But they have no idea what's waiting for them behind a locked closet door. One of about 70 messages they exchange throughout the night. Matthew Boynton is the grandson of Sheriff Beam. Sheila Mathews publishes The Grip, an independent newspaper in Griffin. "He told 911 that he was so worried and he was trying to get back to the house as fast as possible. The police department should be ashamed of themselves for trying to cover this up!!! Man that young girl deserves justice, it really smells like the cop snapped and tried to kill her, especially during the night of interview when he starts talking fast and over explaining his actions like I didnt even wash my hands. The shooting occurred on the evening of April 14, 2016. 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. No. He reads another text from his girlfriend, while driving 90 mph. Jessica Boynton was initially . Jessica's theory of what happened centers around her "dirty divorce diary." She was hit over the head. And the doctor in the emergency room didn't find any bullet holes. 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. I left a message with the lady that answered for her to call me. And they said yes," the neighbor said. Then-Griffin Police Department officer Matthew Boynton was arrested on July 28, 2017, for giving a false statement to his own department stating he was not i. Because she owned the retainer prior to her marriage, it would not be considered community property. It appears it was self-inflicted. He's meeting his buddy at the local Waffle House. He also reported hearing two gunshots and. They hit the top of the stairs knowing somebody's got a gun. Jessica Boynton's husband says he gets a suicidal text from his estranged wife, so he rushes home, only to hear two gunshots. "She was actually happy, she was thrilled because she finally got that closure that she needed," says the neighbor. Listen. "I don't want to put all the blame on him but he's the only person that could have done it," said Jessica Boynton. Cops find 8-month-old Tyler visibly upset but thankfully uninjured. When they finally shove their way in, tragic heartbreak is lying in front of them. GSW, possible to the head. Ultimately, it came down to orthodontia Lesters retainer. A bunch of CLOWNS!! In response to 11Alives questions about the case, the GBI said, We are confident in the investigation that was conducted., RELATED: Jessica Boynton says she's free as a bird', MORE | Watch the Facebook Live with Brendan Keefe. [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. I do not have any other items of Jessicas.. And would a dad leave his kids inside with a suicidal woman and a loaded gun? When facts are wrong, evidence altered to fit theories and threats made, how does the GBI remain the last word on the case? Here lately I have not been able to recognize the person I see in the mirror. Around midnight Matthew says he leaves Jessica and the kids to meet fellow Officer Joshua Guthrie for a late-night snack at Waffle House. The doctor said the second most striking observation while assessing Jessica was that neither of her hands had any evidence of gunpowder. 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. After getting Matthew's phone records, Sanders discovers during that same time Matthew was making calls to 911, he was texting his mistress. Eventually, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation concluded what they believe happened inside that closet; Matthew Boynton was never charged with any connection in harming his wife. At the time of the shooting Jessica was looking to make a new start for herself and two young sons. Somewhere in proximity to his arrest. No bullet fragments were recovered from her head. An officer tries to console his grieving coworker. "According to my interview with Griffin police chief, that second shot had to have been fired while the gun was either on the floor or almost on the floor very close to that wall.". "And I talked to the guy and was like, 'Look man, you know, can you just be honest with me? Jessica's two boys, Tollin, 2, and baby Tyler, are sound asleep in their rooms. I finally had the evidence that I needed that Matthew was cheating on me. Dr. Vernon Henderson, chief of Trauma and Critical Care at Atlanta Medical Center was on-call the morning Jessica came in and treated her for the next month while she was in the hospital. The GBI needs an overhaulclean house. Matthew's fellow officers try to shield him from the sight of his gravely injured wife. But many believe Jessica holds the only key as to what really happened inside that closet. 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.. According to Sanders, these items were obtained from a woman who contacted him and claimed to be Boyntons girlfriend. He enters, checking the master bedroom. There was most likely a struggle with the gun and he assumed she was dead. GBI/Griffin Police Dept. Jessica Boynton says she's free as a bird'. Matthew claims they returned home just after 11 p.m. His proof? ", Following that phone call, Mathews, perceiving that she was threatened, called the GBIs director of professional standards to file a formal complaint and to gain clarity about what he meant by, Were gonna have a problem.. "Happy," said the neighbor. Which I knew that.. Especially because of my children. Matt shouldnt be allowed to ever be a cop anywhere else. ', Do you know how it was that you got shot?, Have you ever had any type of thoughts about hurting yourself?. And their "War of the Roses" was about to explode. Earlier that night Jessica's husband Matthew headed to Waffle House for a late-night bite with a fellow officer, leaving his service. I attempted to contact Jessica Boynton via telephone to advise her that this is a civil matter. She's like a sister to me, Browning says, her voice quivering. She made a full recovery, but doesn't remember a thing. "How did his phone get in there? Around 9 o'clock on the night of Thursday, April 14, 2016, Matthew Boynton calls a lieutenant on duty and reports Jessica is hitting him again. The babys muffled cry echoes, getting louder as the officers sweep their guns back and forth, searching for the shooter. 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. Absolutely, Matthew assures the agent. She's moaning.. Earlier that night Jessica's husband Matthew headed to Waffle House for a late-night bite with a fellow officer, leaving his service weapon, Jessica and his sleeping sons at home. The dispatch operator notified Matthew on Facebook, Browning says. I don't know why. The neighbor says Jessica came over to her apartment with the kids, clearly upset about the fight. But Jessica still can't remember what happened that terrible night in the closet, and she's says there is only one person with the answers. I didn't try to wash my hands, anything, because I knew GSR and all that would be involved.. Then he drops a shocker, claiming he wasn't the only one cheating, "She finally told me, she said 'Yeah, I had an affair,'" Matthew Boynton says in the GBI interview. A Griffin police officer who was investigated in his ex-wife's shooting was charged Friday, July 28, 2017, with making false statements and violating oath after officials say he took her belongings, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. And I could have been the next target.. Unfortunately, the only person who may be able to answer that question is Jessica, and she was in a coma. One of those bullets went through the roof, the other lodged into the baby's bedroom wall. After just six months of marriage, the Boyntons' one-time neighbor says she saw their young love grow toxic. What are my kids going to do? he pleaded, his voice cracking with emotion. Furthermore, she said, there were too many errors and discrepancies for her to have sent a text like that. Chris DeMarco, GBIs assistant special agent in charge, arrives on the scene and meets with Griffin Police Chief Michael Yates for a briefing. She alleged that many of Lesters belongings remained in Boyntons residence. From her hospital bed, she spoke to the GBI. She would never have done this. Her mouth covered with a breathing apparatus and several machines attached to her, in an effort to monitor her condition. "Her hands appeared to be pristine, but also he noted that she had no gunpowder burns.". Officer Boynton hung up and did not respond to multiple messages, while the GBI refused to talk about the closed case. The quiet is broken when the baby begins to mumble from the other room. I'll be there in about two. It appears to be either an assault or maybe something accidental," said Miley. Griffin Police Officer Matthew Boynton tells dispatch he has no idea what's happened to his wife or their two young sons. giving him custody, and granting Jessica once-weekly. 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. Jones removes the gun, which has a tactical flashlight attached to the bottom of its barrel, and places it on the kitchen counter and heads outside. "Really somebody just needs to look at it, somebody of great knowledge of things like this, and then let them tell me what they think," said Jessica Boynton. The purpose of it, is when you're fighting with somebody to keep the weapon from coming out of your holster, but it's certainly easy to take it out under most cases. Matthew calls another officer and reports Jessica is refusing to leave with him. 11Alive reached out to Officer Matthew Boynton, however, phone calls were not returned. After you got on the radio and you were outside communicating on the radio, you never went back in to actually check, check on the kids, the agent questioned Matthew about once he removed himself from the apartment. She said there were too many errors and discrepancies for her to have sent it. Cops finally reach that locked closet door. 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. "Police department!" GRIFFIN, Ga. Who shot the officers wife? Keyword: Admitted. But DeMarco insisted to Mathews during their phone conversation, that the timeline was not relevant. I was looking for a job and I finally found one. He assigns another officer to standby at the door until the rest of the apartment is cleared. I believe I just heard a shot fired coming from my residence. Officer Boynton was responding to an accident, and when he returned to his cruiser, we were waiting, armed with questions. Statements from Jessica Boynton and Matthew Boynton are logged into evidence, said a statement written by Yancy March 13. She told me she loved me right before she did it," Matthew says, sobbing, as the paramedics roll her gurney into the ambulance and slam the doors shut. "If they put out a report I spend a lot of time fact-checking it and making sure what they're telling is the truth," said Sanders. UPDATE: This story was originally published in November 2016. Agent DeMarco approaches Meagan Browning, who's joined by Eric Kshywonis, at 61 Ashford Waythe apartment just downstairs from Jessica and Matthew. I was excited I wasn't going to have to put up with him anymore because honestly I felt like his maid, and that's all I felt like.. She had always kept it hidden, but now, there it is for everyone to see. They discover two shell casings and two bullet holes in the closet wall. His flashlight's beam reveals a smiling family of four. 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 ). Matthew's hands were not tested for gunpowder either. I f***ing love her. 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. But someone else did. According to a press release issued by the Griffin Police Department, Boynton was on Friday arrested without incident and transported to the Spalding County Jail. Maybe Jessica would remember why and when the door knob was swapped because it happened before that night. God damn it, man! It is unknown what effect his arrest may have on Boyntons criminal cases. Just one minute later, Matthewcalls 911, reaching Spalding County dispatch. Dispatch notifies Spalding County Sheriff Wendell Beam, Matthews grandfather,and police notify Jessicas family that she has died.