Monte Rio man guilty of murder in domestic violence case

George Snyder
Staff Writer
A Monte Rio man is facing a mandatory life sentence following
his conviction July 16 for beating his roommate to death with a
lamp last January.
According to Sonoma County District Attorney Stephan
Passalacqua, 46-year-old Bret Arnold Matz guilty of the murder in
the second degree of his domestic partner, Robert August Guess,
also 46.
The jury also found a deadly weapon, the lamp, was used during
the commission of the crime.
Sentencing is scheduled for August 14, 2009.
“Domestic violence is a serious threat to the health, safety and
general welfare of this community. As this case illustrates, the
District Attorney’s Office is dedicated to the vigorous prosecution
of domestic violence cases,” said Passalacqua.
“This guilty verdict sends a clear message that domesticviolence
within our community will not be tolerated.”
Guess had lived in Monte Rio for more than a dozen years
before he began a live-in relationship with Matz about a
year
until his death in early January, according to the district
attorney’s office.
On the day of the killing, according to court officials, Matz
left the Monte Rio home the two men shared and walked to downtown
Monte Rio, apparently drunk and distraught. He told a local store
owner that his roomate had been in a vehicle accident but later
said he had killed Guess.
Guess was found dead in his bed with major head injuries by
local emergency responders after the store owner had advised them
of Matz’s statements.
An autopsy later determined Guess died as a result of multiple
blunt force injuries to his head from being struck with a heavy
lamp.
Matz, who was found nearby during the emergency call, was
subsequently arrested on homicide charges by Sonoma County
Sheriff’s deputies.