AMHERST — An award-winning chef at UMass pleaded not guilty to a murder charge in Eastern Hampshire District Court Thursday morning in connection with the fatal beating of his wife, Emma MacDonald, 31, inside the UMass Campus Center Hotel Wednesday night.
Jeffrey MacDonald, 36, of Wilbraham, also pleaded not guilty to a second charge of assault and battery on a police officer. He is being held without bail, and is expected to appear back in court for a probable cause hearing on May 12.
A statement of facts compiled by UMass Amherst Police Lt. James Sullivan states that police responded to reports of an “emergency taking place” at the Hotel UMass at around 7:42 p.m. Wednesday. Upon arrival, a “violent struggle” ensued between MacDonald and police, in which the defendant allegedly threw objects at the officers, striking one UMass police officer in the face numerous times, the report states. In room 413, police found a woman dead “with significant injuries.”
“Given the significant nature of the female’s injuries, it seemed apparent to investigators that her injuries had resulted from a violent assault,” Sullivan wrote. “[After his arrest] Macdonald spoke with investigators , during which he admitted that he had intentionally beaten his [wife] to death using his hands, feet, as well as a variety of blunt objects, and that it was his intent to kill her in doing so.”
According to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office, a preliminary investigation indicates that the suspect and the victim both worked at UMass Amherst and were not students. Jeffrey MacDonald worked an executive sous chef and was named Chef of the Year by the American Culinary Federation in 2025.
Emma MacDonald, identified only as the victim, was a UMass Amherst staff member, according to a message sent to the campus community on Thursday morning by Chancellor Javier Reyes.
The incident remains under investigation by the UMass Amherst Police Department, the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office, and the Massachusetts Crime Scene Services Section.
The official cause of death will be determined by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
In his statement, Reyes said there is no ongoing threat to the campus or the community.
“I want to acknowledge that this is heartbreaking and deeply unsettling news for our campus,” he wrote. “Our thoughts are with those affected, including the families, friends, and colleagues of the individuals involved. I also recognize that the lack of complete information may add to the distress many are feeling, but this is necessary to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation.”
