Award-winning chef charged with killing wife at UMass Amherst Campus Center Hotel

An award-winning chef at the University of Massachusetts is accused of brutally murdering his wife and assaulting a police officer at the UMass Campus Center hotel in Amherst Wednesday night. 

Jeffrey MacDonald, a 36-year-old from Wilbraham, pleaded not guilty to one charge of murder and one charge of assault and battery on a police officer at his arraignment in Eastern Hampshire District Court Thursday morning. Police say that he confessed to beating his wife to death.

The name of the victim has not been released yet. UMass Amherst Chancellor Javier Reyes said the victim was also a staff member at the college. The Medical Examiner will determine her official cause of death.

Jeffrey MacDonald charged with murder at UMass Hotel

A police report says officers responded to the hotel at 7:42 p.m. for a reported emergency. Police said MacDonald threw objects in the direction of officers and hit one UMass police officer in the face. 

Police said they found the woman dead in the hotel room with injuries that were consistent with "a violent assault." MacDonald told investigators that he had "intentionally beaten" her with his hands, feet and other blunt objects, "and that it was his intent to kill her in doing so," the police report said.

MacDonald was held without bail and is due back in court on May 12.

Who is Jeffrey MacDonald?

Last August UMass said MacDonald, the executive sous chef for UMass Dining, was named "Chef of the Year" by the American Culinary Federation.

"This distinguished honor is a testament to MacDonald's talent, leadership, and commitment to advancing the culinary profession," the school's website said. 

UMass Amherst has consistently earned the "best campus food" ranking from the Princeton Review and has the largest college dining program in the country.

UMass said last August that MacDonald's achievements "continue to elevate the national profile of the UMass Dining program."

"Being honored as Chef of the Year by the ACF is an incredible milestone," MacDonald said. "I'm grateful for the support of my colleagues at UMass Dining and the inspiring culinary community that I'm fortunate to be part of."  

"Deeply unsettling news for our campus"

Reyes said there is no ongoing threat to the campus. 

"I want to acknowledge that this is heartbreaking and deeply unsettling news for our campus. Our thoughts are with those affected, including the families, friends, and colleagues of the individuals involved," he said in a message to the UMass Amherst community. "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."

Support resources are available for those on campus, Reyes said.

Hotel UMass

According to AAA, the campus hotel has 113 rooms. The hotel's website explains that it is not affiliated with any hotel chains.

"We are run by the University of Massachusetts," the website states. "The UMass Hotel is a teaching hotel and the majority of our employees are UMass students in the Hospitality and Tourism Management major."  

In November, Gov. Maura Healey fired a staffer who previously served as director of Hotel UMass between 2016 and 2023. Lamar Cook was charged with drug trafficking and accused of having cocaine delivered to the hotel.

The UMass Amherst campus is about 90 miles west of Boston.