Nicholas Matthew, who was found guilty of attempted murder in a 2024 stabbing attack in Point Defiance Park, faces sentencing after a jury found him guilty.
Tacoma, Washington— Man convicted of attempted murder A woman involved in an attack in Defiance Point Park is scheduled to be sentenced Friday.
A jury found Nicholas Matthew guilty of attempted first-degree murder in connection with the February 2024 attack.
Testimony during the trial detailed violent attacks on park trails. The victim told jurors Matthew held a knife to her throat and threatened her life multiple times.
The attack ended when another man approached her on the road and asked if she was okay.
Multiple bystanders intervened and fought off Matthew, who then fled into nearby woods, according to the affidavit.
The woman was rushed to Tacoma General Hospital, where she underwent emergency surgery. She suffered multiple lacerations to her head, neck and shoulders, her ears were partially severed and she had difficulty breathing. Doctors implanted more than 150 staples in her head.
Tacoma police responded, identified Matthew as the suspect and spent nearly seven weeks searching for him.
Investigators tracked Matthew to Georgia before learning he was on a flight to San Francisco, according to court documents. Authorities said he was trying to leave the country when he was arrested at San Francisco International Airport.
The case was delayed because of questions about Matthew’s competency to stand trial. A forensic evaluation found he was exhibiting symptoms consistent with schizoaffective disorder and he was transferred to Western State Hospital where he was treated under the supervision of the Department of Social and Health Services.
Matthew was found competent to stand trial in October 2024 and was arraigned on a charge of attempted first-degree murder. His bail is set at $2 million.
The court then ordered another competency evaluation. In June, Matthew was again found competent to stand trial.
A judge is expected to determine Matthew’s sentence at a hearing on Friday.
