Award-Winning UMass Amherst Chef Charged in Wife’s Murder at Campus Hotel

An award-winning chef at the University of Massachusetts Amherst has been charged with murdering his wife in a room at Hotel UMass on Wednesday night. Jeffrey C. MacDonald, 36, of Wilbraham, pleaded not guilty to one count of murder and one count of assault and battery on a police officer at his arraignment in Eastern Hampshire District Court Thursday morning.

According to police reports, officers responded to the hotel at 7:42 p.m. For a reported emergency. Upon arrival, MacDonald allegedly threw objects in the direction of officers and struck a UMass police officer in the face. Inside Room 413, officers found Emma MacDonald, 31, dead with injuries consistent with a violent assault.

MacDonald told investigators that he had “intentionally beaten” his wife with his hands, feet, and other blunt objects, “and that it was his intent to kill her in doing so,” the police report stated. He was held without bail and is due back in court on May 12.

The victim, identified as Emma MacDonald, was also a staff member at UMass Amherst. University Chancellor Javier Reyes confirmed both individuals were employees of the college and stated there is no ongoing threat to the campus.

Jeffrey MacDonald, a chef at the university, was named Chef of the Year by the American Culinary Federation last year, UMass announced in August.

Support resources are available for those on campus affected by the incident, Reyes said in a message to the UMass Amherst community.