Coroner says man involved in standoff killed himself

BY JIM MUSTIAN
THE DAILY IBERIAN
Published/Last Modified on Friday, December 26, 2008 2:07 PM CST

DELCAMBRE — A Delcambre man shot himself in the head Thursday afternoon after an all-day standoff with police officials and negotiators that began when he threatened his girlfriend and her child, authorities said.

Matthew Bowen, 40, was found dead in his South President Street residence around 5:30 p.m. after the Louisiana State Police SWAT team blew out the back door of the home with an explosive charge, Delcambre Police Chief James Broussard said.

Broussard said Bowen threatened his girlfriend Melissa Wetzel, 39, and her son, who fled the home while Bowen and Wetzel were arguing to call the police from a neighbor’s house. Once deputies arrived, Bowen armed himself with a shotgun, but Broussard said he rescued Wetzel from the home and that she was largely uninjured.

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Bowen threatened several deputies outside his home with the shotgun, said Capt. Wendell Raborn, spokesman for the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office, and then re-entered the home and equipped himself with a high-powered rifle. Raborn said Bowen fired several shots, none of which injured anyone.

Bowen barricaded himself in the residence as police officials evacuated a two-block area in Delcambre. Broussard estimated about a dozen families at home celebrating the Christmas holiday were evacuated.

Negotiators from the Sheriff’s Office and Louisiana State Police spoke with Bowen but could not persuade him drop his weapon and surrender. Raborn said officials lost contact with Bowen around 2 p.m.

The Iberia Parish Coroner’s Office arrived on the scene around 3:40 p.m., but Bowen was not pronounced dead until after 6 p.m.

Iberia Parish Coroner Dr. James Falterman said Bowen committed suicide with the rifle, shooting himself in the head.

Wetzel was taken to Iberia Medical Center to be treated for minor injuries from her dispute with Bowen.

Delcambre Mayor Carol Broussard, who knew Bowen his whole life, said Bowen “has threatened his girlfriend and wife several times before.” Police records show Bowen was arrested in April for driving while intoxicated, though a complete criminal history was not available this morning.

“It looked like this was going to happen,” Carol Broussard said. “He just finished the job this time.”

Copyright © 2009 The Daily Iberian

Comments

    J. Huval wrote on Jan 17, 2009 3:04 PM:

    " All of you who have this Better Than Thou attitude will also be judged someday. No one speaks of him going to church with his kids and his kind welcoming smile.

    Prey for him rather than cast stones...
    Oh, I forgot you people are all perfect. "

    t john wrote on Jan 15, 2009 5:52 PM:

    " why are we still talking about this? "

    new to the area wrote on Jan 12, 2009 8:28 AM:

    " well Congrats to you! Marriage still sucks! "

    B.Bean wrote on Jan 11, 2009 7:23 AM:

    " Marriage is for people that don't run out when it gets a little tough ! I don't do drugs, cheat on my wife , beat my wife , I am by far not perfect, I am selfish , annoying (sometimes) ,OK alot but we love each other enough to work through everything. "

    new to the are wrote on Jan 10, 2009 4:24 PM:

    " Ok I agree, but there are several different types of abuse, sometimes you have to make a believer out of someone. I'm not making excuses nor do I believe that what he did was right! At this point I do not believe in marriage, it's not what it used to be there are so many factors now! Drugs, cheating and beating. The world is coming to an end! Everyone better be ready to face thier maker. Some of us would be better off alone! "

    B.Bean wrote on Jan 10, 2009 7:29 AM:

    " New to the area, you sound like you are still making excuses for a guy to beat you.
    A woman can get in my face day in and day out , I WILL NOT HIT HER. If she hits me I walk away drive or anything . "

    To new to the area wrote on Jan 9, 2009 4:28 PM:

    " Again, I've walked close enough there also. My father was abusive to my mother, his next two wives, all of his children, stepchildren, and many girlfriends along the way. Both of my sisters have been involved in abusive marriages.
    If a woman or a man is being abused, they can report it. The domestic violence laws protect both women and men. But one usually has to call for help to get it. "

    new to the area wrote on Jan 9, 2009 2:50 PM:

    " I was married to a man that beat me, so I can speak from experience! Sometimes a woman thinks she can fill a mans shoes and step up to the plate, when she gets knocked on her a#$ then she wants to cry abuse. Boo Hoo. What about the men that we never hear about whose wives and girlfriends beat on them and they do nothing about it? I speak from experience, until you walk a mile in someone's shoes you should keep your mouth shut! "

    Appalled wrote on Jan 9, 2009 1:57 PM:

    " I am appalled that ya'll think the police should of left him alone after the girlfriend and son were out of the house. He could of gone find her and finished what was started if the police would of left him be! He might of even killed innocent people who stood in his way! That was NOT his first domestic situation that the police had to be called. Evidently this man had a violent temper under the influence or not. "

    Shouldnt excuse domestic violence wrote on Jan 9, 2009 1:32 PM:

    " Two people (new to the area and Bellnazi) who posted on this forum said the police "should have left well enough alone" after a woman and her child were out of immediate danger in relation to a domestic violence call involving a man with a gun. What kind of mentality is that? That sounds like the self-justification of a "batterer", or the opinion of someone who excuses it. How many women are killed here every year by men with that same mentality who repeatedly abuse them? "

    new to the area wrote on Jan 9, 2009 11:22 AM:

    " cont. He was a person just like you and me. He left behind family that loved him very much. We all make mistakes, he just couldn't take this one back. My heart goes out to his family and true friends. "

    new to the area wrote on Jan 9, 2009 11:20 AM:

    " I knew Big Matt only a short time, but what I did know was good when his head was on straight. Everyone that has voiced their opinion has partied at one time in their life! Most of you are looking to blame Big Matt, but what did the girlfriend do to provoke him? You ever stop to wonder who started all of this? I agree, once the girl and boy were out they should have just left well enough alone! Delcambre is a small town and if you screw up once you are branded for life. "

    Pale Ryder wrote on Jan 6, 2009 2:31 PM:

    " And impairment should not be an excuse or justification for a vile act. I don't feel sorry for him at all. "

    Parent to Tiffany wrote on Jan 6, 2009 9:38 AM:

    " I've walked close enough. We recently had our grown son committed for threatening to hurt someone and then commit suicide. He chooses to abuse drugs and can't live with us. I also have siblings who are addicts and alcoholics(one's in jail). And we've also known the pain of 3 family members having committed suicide with guns.
    We will always love our son unconditionally, just as I love my siblings. Sadly, they didn't become impaired or addicted without choosing to begin using drugs and alcohol. I pray Matt's family will find peace. "

    Tiffany wrote on Jan 5, 2009 5:59 PM:

    " cont'd
    however if you’ve never walked in someone’s shoes – don’t pass judgment. As far as the girlfriend; I don’t feel sorry for her because she made the choice to be there and do exactly what he did… Her child should not have been put in that situation in the first place. "

    Tiffany wrote on Jan 5, 2009 5:58 PM:

    " cont'd
    He will meet the maker and have to answer for what he did. His family will have live with this for the rest of their lives. Please let them grieve in peace, so they can heal and remember him as they do – not by the things he did on that Christmas Day. I am very sorry for what the law enforcement had to endure that morning and all of the families that had to leave their homes and everyone else who had to sacrifice their Christmas Day, "

    Tiffany wrote on Jan 5, 2009 5:54 PM:

    " Obviously; you've never had someone close to you with a disease like this for if you had; you would realize that when you are under the influence; you do not think or act in the way that you normally would. I can assure you that if Matt had not been under the influence - he would have never done this. I don't agree with anything that he did that day; however I do realize that good people do make wrong choices when they are impaired. Therefore, I choose to learn from this tragedy and not judge him. "

    Parent to Parent wrote on Jan 5, 2009 12:38 PM:

    " Be honest, what did Matt the "good" father, husband, brother, and son really do?

    1. hurt girlfriend's son
    2. had a wife and a girlfriend
    3. had previous domestic abuse calls
    4. "rumored" drug abuse
    5. shot at cops

    As a parent you can love him unconditionally, but please accept the painful truth. Please don't say what Matt wouldn't do. What he did was worse. Defending him won't help. Hopefully you can somehow come to terms with what he did and find some kind of peace. Godspeed. "

    Matts Mother wrote on Jan 4, 2009 10:51 PM:

    " SHAME on the people who voiced negative comments,he would have never voiced negative comments if the shoe was on your foot because he would have respected your families feelings especially children. He was a good Father, Husband, Brother and a Loving Son despite his problems. To the Mayor of Delcambre,totally inappropiate comments, and unforgiving we would have never hurt your family with ugly comments and you did'nt know him his whole life, and Joel it was just a RUMOR you should'nt have commented either, and James M of this paper,###@#@#@ "

    Lindsey wrote on Jan 3, 2009 1:00 AM:

    " I only feel for his family now they have to live with the memory of "A good husband ,father and friend" killing himself. if you ask me he was a selfish person his children need him to be here...now they have to grow up with no father! A good husband, father and friend would not do something like this, first off, to his family and then himself! "

    Lindsey wrote on Jan 3, 2009 12:52 AM:

    " I did not know this man or any member of his family... but i read some of the comments and a lot of people knew him to be a good person to everyone he came in contact with. ...BUT he crossed the line when he started to shoot at police officers, if they had let him go who's to say he wouldnt have gone off on the next person... i stand by the our police officers 100%. they did their job of protecting...and if he had not lost it, he would still be with us today. It was his choice! "

    Area Resident wrote on Dec 29, 2008 8:03 PM:

    " cont'd
    I am sorry for Matt's family, I am sorry for his children, but this person made a decision on his own. He was shooting a GUN at law enforcement! No matter that he was a good father, an excellent friend, this man took it upon himself to end his own life. No one was pushing him. They were trying to get him out, trying to talk him out without hurting him! He made the decision to shoot himself! That will not change....no matter what kind of person he was every other day. "

    Area Resident wrote on Dec 29, 2008 8:00 PM:

    " Why wasn't his girlfriend arrested? Didn't one of them admit to smoking crack with each other on Christmas morning? Wouldn't this be child endangerment on the part of both of them, but since he didn't survive, on her part? Someone else said he was a good husband to his wife. But this wasn't his wife! He chose to pull a gun on a law enforcement official! The child evidently felt threatened enough to escape, run next door, and call the police! This guy wasn't that much of an innocent victim! cont'd "

    Someone Who Knew Matt wrote on Dec 28, 2008 12:42 PM:

    " People need to remember in a time as this one, we are one to pass judgement, we need to reflect on the good times and moments that Matt brought into everyone's lives. Matt was a person, a great father and was a good husband to Michelle. When Matt did see people he knew in public, as always, he made his way to them to say Hello or whatever, with a smile... He will be missed, for I knew Matt, as a brother. For the people that have bad things to say, keep them to yourself.We aren't the ones to judge. "

    Pale Ryder wrote on Dec 28, 2008 11:46 AM:

    " How about that child? And to you BellNazi, what did you think Law Enforcement was going to do, leave? I don't think so because your friend committed several crimes. That time it wasn't just your local police department. I believe he fouled up when he pointed his weapon at the Sheriff's Department because they won't tuck their tails and leave. I don't feel bad for him, however i do feel bad for his family as they are having to suffer over his decision to end his life in that manner. "

    Pale Ryder wrote on Dec 28, 2008 11:41 AM:

    " Blah Blah Blah. I am tired of hearing how much of an outstanding person this deranged attempted murderer was. I for one am glad he choose to end it the way he did. We don't have to feed him for the next twenty years while he sits in prison. How about the child who had to witness his mother being beaten by this scumbag? How about the child that had to watch his mother with a gun to her head. How about this child that was struck because he made too much noise opening presents on christmas morning. "

    Bbean wrote on Dec 28, 2008 9:10 AM:

    " I know a lot of loving, and not so loving fathers and husbands , none of them hold their kids or girlfriends hostage with a gun !!!
    Did you want the police to just let him go because the kid and girl got away ?? "

    curious wrote on Dec 27, 2008 9:28 PM:

    " What are you talking about? Nothing in the article above implies that he is a victim... "

    spanishlake wrote on Dec 27, 2008 5:10 PM:

    " This story should have ended a few months ago. Thankfully the story ended with this guy killing no one but himself.
    He was a loose cannon and should have been off the streets when he first became a dangerous threat to everyone. If the full story ever makes itself known, you will know that the Delcambre police department was very neglectful in their duties, in previous incidents surrounding this person. They enabled him to do wrongs and not answer to it. Let him go with no penalty. "

    Ashley wrote on Dec 27, 2008 2:45 PM:

    " That was a stupid comment. "

    a friend wrote on Dec 27, 2008 2:26 PM:

    " We called him, Big Matt. I knew him my whole life. And yes everyone has their problems and issues. " the only thing I will remember him as, Is what a loving father and husband. " I do not care if your the Major, judge, and school teacher from delcambre everyone has Skeletals in there closet, your just ashame to show yours. Matt did not care about anyone in delcambre and what they thought about him, like most. He lived his life. He will be missed ! "

    BellNazi wrote on Dec 27, 2008 2:13 PM:

    " If the police would have left Matt alone he would probably still be alive. They over reacted. Once the girlfriend and her son were safe there was no reason to keep trying to get him to come out. The police think anyone with a gun is a criminal. His girlfriend was not hurt! Matt stated to several people that he was not in his right state of mind. He needed help not a SWAT team! God will judge everyone involved for their lethal action. This is my opinion as a witness. Rest in Peace Matt "

    Loving wrote on Dec 27, 2008 1:16 PM:

    " Comments like "It looked like this was going to happen" and "He just finished the job this time" are very unproffesional especially coming from a high profiled resident of Delcambre. The people who know better and were worthy of knowing Mr. Bowen know what kind of loving father, husband, brother, brother-n-law, and friend he really was. No blame put on anyone; victim of personal circumstances....'possibility"..Ya think! By the way Merry Christmas to all "BELIEVERS" and "NON BELIEVERS" "

    bayoutigure wrote on Dec 27, 2008 12:16 PM:

    " My heart goes out too his kids, I am sure he needed help (mental) to bad, it was too late........... "

    Bbean wrote on Dec 26, 2008 11:01 PM:

    " I guess someone will blame the deputy or the garbage man or maybe the dog catcher , it could not have been this guys fault ! He was a victim "

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