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ASHLAND, OH—Ashland County Prosecuting Attorney Christopher R. Tunnell announced today that the Ashland County Grand Jury has returned a five-count indictment against 29-year-old Matthew Joseph DeWitt of Loudonville, Ohio, following a violent domestic assault that occurred on June 3, 2025.DeWitt was indicted on June 12, 2025, and arraigned this morning, June 13, 2025, in the Ashland County Court of Common Pleas. The case will be heard by Judge David Stimpert, with trial scheduled to begin on August 19, 2025
The indictment includes the following charges:
•Count One: Attempted Murder–First Degree Felony
•Count Two: Felonious Assault–Second Degree Felony
•Count Three: Domestic Violence (victim: his mother)–First Degree Misdemeanor
•Count Four: Domestic Violence (victim: his sister)–First Degree Misdemeanor
•Count Five: Aggravated Possession of Drugs (Methamphetamine)–Fifth Degree Felony
According to investigators, Loudonville Police responded to a 911 call regarding a possible domestic violence incident in progress. Officers arrived to find DeWitt shirtless and covered in blood in the front yard. His mother was found inside the residence with life-threatening injuries. She was flown by medical helicopter to Summa Hospital in Akron, where she remains hospitalized. During the initial Court appearance, Assistant Prosecutor Matthew Metcalf stated that DeWitt had been combative with officers and required multiple Taser deployments. He reportedly told officers to kill him. A subsequent search led to the discovery of methamphetamine on DeWitt’s person. Magistrate Paul T. Lange set bond at $750,000.
“This is a heartbreaking case involving extreme violence within a family,” said Prosecutor Tunnell. “We will pursue this case aggressively and continue to support the victims throughout the legal process. Domestic violence has no place in our community.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. Please contact Safe Haven of Ashland at (419) 289-8085 or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). All calls are confidential, and assistance is available 24/7.The investigation is ongoing and is being led by the Loudonville Police Department with assistance from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, Ashland County Sheriff’s Office, and the Ashland Police Department, in coordination with the Ashland County Prosecutor’s Office. The victim’s names are not being disclosed pursuant to their request.
An indictment is a formal charge and not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in acourt of law.