Hearing on competency held concerning Freetown man accused of violently murdering his girlfriend

A hearing was held Wednesday to determine the competency of a man accused of killing his girlfriend.

54-year-old Matthew Lucas of Freetown was arrested on September 20, 2023, and charged with the murder of his live-in girlfriend, 44-year-old Heidi Chace.

Freetown Police received a 911 call at approximately 4:24 a.m. from a neighbor reporting that Chace was unconscious, not breathing, and “cold to the touch” at 92 Chace Road. Responding officers found Chace deceased with severe facial trauma. Blood was observed throughout the residence, and investigators located a hammer saturated with blood and hair, believed to be the murder weapon.

Neighbors heard yelling, primarily from Lucas, and objects being smashed. A neighbor checking on the couple heard Lucas say, “Why are you cold, Heidi? I love you,” and later, through a screen door, Lucas allegedly admitted to killing Chace, stating his “life was over.”

After fleeing the scene on foot, Lucas was located at approximately 8:40 a.m. hiding in a shed on Burns Lane, less than a mile from the crime scene. The shed belonged to someone Lucas knew, reportedly his brother. He was found covered in blood on his clothing and hands and was arrested by state and local police.

Lucas was arraigned later that day in Fall River District Court, where a not guilty plea was entered on his behalf. He was ordered held without bail.

Lucas has a 24-page criminal record, including convictions for violent felonies and four restraining orders from different women, one of which was set to expire on the day of his arrest. He has a history of schizophrenia and substance use disorders, and he had been released from a mental health facility just days before the murder.

On Wednesday morning, Lucas was ordered to be hospitalized for 20 days at Bridgewater State Hospital to determine if he bears criminal responsibility due to competence.