During a sentencing hearing on Thursday, Macomb County Circuit Court Judge James Biernat went beast mode on Arthur Williamson, 55, who has pleaded guilty to numerous brutal crimes including murder, assault, and the attempted rape of a 5-year-old, telling him he should have offed himself.
A month ago, Williamson pled no contest to one count of first-degree premeditated murder, two counts of assault with intent to commit murder, and three counts of unlawful imprisonment.
“You’re a pedophile, you’re a murderer, and you’re really the embodiment of evil,” Judge Biernat told Williamson. “It’s good you’ll never see the light of day outside of prison. The only thing that’s amazing is you didn’t kill all of them.”
(Video Credit: Fox 2 Detroit)
“And I understand you tried to commit suicide yourself? Is that accurate?” he asked the defendant who stated it was. “Try to commit suicide before you do any of this. Take yourself out so you don’t kill people or try to rape 5-year-olds.”
A Detroit-area man has been sentenced to life in prison for the brutal slaying of a radio news anchor and attack on the anchor’s family. A Macomb County judge has called Arthur Williamson the “embodiment of evil” Thursday during sentencing in Mount Clemens. pic.twitter.com/Ir4XMBDiVI
— Michigan News Source (@MINewsSource) June 2, 2023
In Michigan, the death penalty is not legal so it was not considered in sentencing. The judge sentenced Williamson to life in prison without the possibility of parole because it was his only option.
Williamson served time for a 2002 conviction for assault with the intent to commit murder, kidnapping, and several weapons charges. In 2013, he was convicted of breaking and entering as well as assaulting a police officer. He also has several drug convictions that date back to 1993.
The details of Williamson’s long list of crimes are graphic and horrific.
55-year-old Arthur Williamson was officially sentenced in Macomb Circuit Court today in the murder of former @WWJ950 News Anchor Jim Matthews, assault of girlfriend Nichole Guertin & their 2 kids.
Arthur pled no contest to 1st degree premeditated murder over a month ago.
(1/4) pic.twitter.com/joMnHUKFhr
— Ryan H. Marshall (@RyanHMarshall) June 1, 2023
Members of Jim’s family spoke at sentencing and voiced their pain & anger towards Arthur for causing trauma to the family.
Jim’s girlfriend Nichole (who was also attacked) spoke via Zoom and left a statement. Arthur simply said, “I’m sorry” when allowed to speak. @WWJ950
(2/4) pic.twitter.com/utvZziQVbM
— Ryan H. Marshall (@RyanHMarshall) June 1, 2023
“At around 4 a.m. on September 23, 2022, Arthur Williamson, 55, went to the home that his acquaintance Nicole Guertin shared with her longtime boyfriend, Jim Nicolai, and their two young children. Nicolai was an overnight news anchor on WWJ 950, an AM news and talk radio station for metro-Detroit, and while on air he was known as Jim Matthews,” TheBlaze reported.
Guertin testified that she let Williamson in to smoke crack and do heroin together. She called him “Smokey.” Her boyfriend had not arrived home from work yet.
“At some point in the evening, Williamson asked Guertin to engage in ‘role play,’ but Guertin refused. Her refusal reportedly enraged Williamson. He suddenly pulled out a knife and began slashing at her. He managed to restrain her physically before tying her up with zip ties,” TheBlaze wrote.
“Nicolai returned from work around 6 a.m. As soon as he entered the home, he greeted Williamson and then began screaming as Williamson bludgeoned him repeatedly with a hammer, Guertin said. In addition to the hammer, Williamson also attacked Nicolai with the knife, eventually slitting the man’s throat and killing him,” TheBlaze added.
Then Williamson went after the children in a nightmarish scene that is worthy of a warning to readers.
One family member said they hope that Arthur rots in hell for what he did to Jim and his family.
Judge James Biernat Jr. also allowed the prosecution to show gut-wrenching police body cam footage of the initial response to Jim’s home after the 911 call was made. @WWJ950
(3/4) pic.twitter.com/cOHhXQIdo6
— Ryan H. Marshall (@RyanHMarshall) June 1, 2023
Here’s video from Jim Matthews’ family after the sentencing of 55-year-old Arthur Williamson in Macomb Circuit Court today.
When I asked them if they forgive Arthur…
– Barbara Youngins (cousin): ✅
– Jennifer Nickolai (sister-in law):❓
– Joe Nickolai (brother): ❌ pic.twitter.com/W72nSrfXD8— Ryan H. Marshall (@RyanHMarshall) June 1, 2023
Guertin, who had just witnessed the murder of her boyfriend, was still tied at the wrists and ankles as she helplessly watched Williamson head for her children who were sleeping. He tied up her 10-year-old son with duct tape and started hitting the child with a hammer, screaming at the boy who begged him to stop.
Unfortunately, according to TheBlaze, it got much worse as the mother could hear “Williamson lubricate himself before grabbing her 5-year-old daughter, who had been awakened by the noise, and then raping her. The little girl also noticed her father’s lifeless body. ‘Is that my dad?’ the girl reportedly asked Williamson. ‘Did you kill my dad?'”
The mother eventually freed herself and grabbed her daughter, running out of the house and calling for help.
When the police arrived on the scene, they found Williamson in the basement. He had self-inflicted wounds indicating he had tried to kill himself. When that didn’t work, he tried to overdose on heroin. Officers administered Narcan and saved the monster, then transported him to the hospital for treatment. He was later arrested.
Guertin had stab wounds all over her body but survived. Her son did too and was found in a closet “left for dead.” He was hospitalized with a severe head injury that required brain surgery after the attack.
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