‘Chef of the Year’ Accused of Murdering Wife in Campus Hotel Room

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An award-winning campus chef at the University of Massachusetts Amherst is accused of brutally murdering his wife on school grounds.

Jeffrey MacDonald, 36, served as executive sous chef for the college, winning the ‘Chef of the Year’ award from the American Culinary Federation last year.

But on Wednesday, he told police he purposely beat his 31-year-old wife, Emma, “with the intent to kill his wife in doing so.” The gruesome incident happened in an on-campus hotel room and involved a fight between police and MacDonald.

The chef allegedly hit one officer several times and threw objects at police in the course of the struggle.

After containing MacDonald, police found his wife, who was also an employee of the school, unresponsive inside the room.

The police report alleges MacDonald used his hands, feet, and other objects in the fatal assault.

He was arrested and arraigned in Eastern Hampshire District Court on Thursday, where he pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder and assault and battery on a police officer.

University of Massachusetts Chancellor Javier Reyes sent an email to staff telling them there was no current threat and sharing his thoughts on the violence. “I want to acknowledge that this is heartbreaking and deeply unsettling news for our campus.

Our thoughts are with those affected, including the families, friends, and colleagues of the individuals involved,” he wrote.

https://nypost.com/2026/04/24/us-news/umass-amherst-chef-of-the-year-jeffrey-macdonald-allegedly-murdered-wife-emma-macdonald-in-campus-hotel/">Read it at The New York Post

https://www.thedailybeast.com/chef-of-the-year-jeffrey-macdonald-accused-of-murdering-wife-in-campus-hotel-room/">Read more at The Daily Beast.