Dad "Hurled Infant Like a Football"

On August 16, 2013, Montana couple Matthew and Jennifer Blaz were inside the car when their two-month-old daughter, Mattisyn, stopped breathing. Jennifer watched as her daughter took her two last breaths. She ordered Matthew to pull over and call 911.

Matthew called for help while telling his wife that a 12-year-old boy, the neighbor’s son, visited the baby earlier and dropped her onto their carpeted floor earlier in the day. Matthew was home alone with Mattisyn at the time.

*Nothing says I’m guilty like giving your alibi when calling 9-1-1*

By the time Mattisyn reached the hospital, she was unresponsive, having suffered from skull fractures and brain bleed. The couple chose to take Mattisyn off life support. She passed away a few minutes later.

Matthew Arrested

Police spoke with the 12-year-old boy who denied picking up the baby and adamantly denied dropping her. Police believed the story. Mattisyn’s injuries did not line up with the story Matthew gave them.

Matthew never spoke with the boy nor showed animosity toward him, further driving suspicions of his involvement in Mattisyn’s death.

With all evidence pointing toward child abuse, Police arrested Matthew.

An Earlier Violent Incident

Matt Blaz was already a well-known name to CPS and police. Since Mattisyn’s birth, he had already shown his violent side when the baby was two weeks old on June 25, 2013, he came home drunk, grabbed Jennifer by the hair, and tossed her down on the kitchen floor as she held Mattisyn. Jennifer called the police and CPS visited the home the next day.

The judge ordered Matthew to take anger management classes and stay away from Jennifer and Mattisyn. This arrangement did not last very long. Sadly, he convinced her that he had changed in that short period and she allowed him to return home. Biggest mistake ever.

Matthew’s Trial Begins

During Matthew’s trial, the 12-year-old took the stand to testify, mirroring the same comments he gave to police during the initial investigation, denying that he picked up or dropped Mattisyn. State Medical Examiner Willy Kemp testified that Mattisyn died from extensive trauma, much more than a drop onto a carpeted floor. The Medical Examiner stated that it appeared the infant was forcefully slammed against a hard surface.

Prosecutors told the jury that Matthew “hurled the infant like a football.”

Members of the jury stated that the 12-year-old boy’s story was very convincing. Matthew did not mention anything about the boy dropping Mattisyn before she became unresponsive in the car. He was also the only person home with the infant at the time.

Life in Prison

A jury found Matthew Blaz guilty of murder after a four-day trial. He was sentenced to life in prison.

His attorney’s appealed the conviction, arguing that jurors should not have been allowed to hear evidence from the June 2013 incident against Jennifer since it was she who was hurt and not Mattisyn. The judge denied his request for a new trial.

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