Writers Tricks of the Trade Issue 3, Volume 8 | Page 13

autopsy that followed showed she had been
strangled.
On my day tour, my street crime partner
and I were assigned to watch for anything
strange when the funeral procession drove
past the house that contained their now va-
cant apartment. While watching the pro-
cession I caught a look at Matthew’s eyes –
they were cold.
Shortly after the funeral, the homicide
detectives arrested and interrogated Mat-
thew, and after showing him the evidence
they had collected, he confessed.
He told the detectives that they planned
to have a romantic evening – just the two of
them. After two bottles of champagne the
sweet talk of newlyweds became the angry
words fueled by alcohol, and when Lisa said
she was going for a walk, it led to her stran-
gulation.
After Matthew murdered Lisa, he had
choices to make. The first was to be a man
and admit what he did and ease the pain of
Lisa’s family as well as accept the conse-
quences of his actions. The second choice
was the evil choice; dispose of his young
bride’s body and play the role of the victim.
Matthew chose the evil choice.
After murdering his wife, Matthew went
to the local 7-11 and bought a box of large
black garbage bags. He took them home to
dispose of Lisa. What Matthew didn’t know
was that during the investigation, the hom-
icide detectives had secured the security
tapes from the store, and there, dated and
time-stamped, was Matthew buying Lisa’s
plastic casket.
Matthew was convicted at trial. He re-
ceived a sentence of eighteen years to life.
He has come up for parole seven times and
each time the parole board has refused to
grant him parole. The next time his case
can be heard by the parole board will be in
March 2019. In the meantime, Lisa’s family
still grieves for her and Christmas remains
an unhappy holiday.
Keith Bettinger is a retired Suffolk County (N.Y.) Police Officer. He’s been writing for law enforcement publica-
tions for more than 25 years and has received 18 awards for his articles, stories, poems, and books. He has a
Master’s Degree in Human Relations with a major in Clinical Counseling. During his career he received the de-
partment’s Bravery Medal, Silver Shield Award, Meritorious Police Service Award, Special Service Award, Profes-
sionalization Award, Department Recognition Award, five Headquarters commendations and six Precinct com-
mendations. He also was a field training officer and an instructor on Post Shooting Trauma and Critical Incidents.
F ALL 2018
P AGE 8
W RITERS ’ T RICKS OF THE T RADE