Rocheport man sentenced to 15 years in prison for 2024 manslaughter case
Mitchell Kaminski
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A Rocheport man who was found guilty of manslaughter last month was sentenced to 15 years in the Department of Corrections on Monday following emotional testimony from family members of the woman killed in the crash.
Matthew Shilling was found guilty on May 14 of second-degree involuntary manslaughter, two counts of armed criminal action, one count of second-degree assault, and misdemeanor driving while revoked. He will also serve an additional year in the Boone County Jail for the misdemeanor charge.
He was originally charged with first-degree involuntary manslaughter, two counts of armed criminal action, one count of second-degree assault, and a count of driving while suspended.
The state asked for the maximum sentence of 15 years, while Shilling’s defense argued for a three-year sentence. Defense attorneys also asked for a new trial on Monday, but that motion was denied.
Shilling is accused of causing a crash that killed Christina Mayfield, 32, on Feb. 2, 2024, on Business Loop 70 near Hathman Place.
Court documents in previous reporting say a motorcycle carrying Christina Mayfield and her husband, Matthew Mayfield, was rear-ended by Shilling’s SUV, sending the motorcycle into another SUV and throwing both riders from the bike.
Before sentencing, Shilling’s attorney told the court that Shilling had expressed remorse.
“He can feel deeply, deeply pained for the loss of Christina Mayfield. And he does. And I do believe him in his sentencing assessment when he said he would switch with her place in a heartbeat,” Shilling’s attorney said.
But Monday’s sentencing largely focused on the impact left behind.
Many of Christina Mayfield’s friends and family were fighting back tears as six victim impact statements were read, including statements from her mother, Brenda Proctor, husband Matthew Mayfield, children Isabella and Jackson Mayfield, grandmother Lou Proctor, and uncle Thomas Proctor.
Proctor described learning that her daughter had died.
“My son brought me the phone to tell me my little girl had been in an accident on a motorcycle with her husband and she didn’t make it,” Brenda Proctor said.
She later criticized Shilling’s actions leading up to the crash.
“All this because of one individual, Matt Shilling’s, negligence, I yes negligence. He was speeding had no insurance, no driver’s license, no insurance, and clearly was not paying attention, or he would have slowed in time and my daughter would still be here today,” Brenda Proctor said.
Court records show Shilling had nine prior convictions for driving while suspended or revoked and another conviction for driving without a license.
Matthew Mayfield also spoke about the lasting physical toll from the crash, telling the court he is unable to work because of his injuries and will likely need multiple surgeries moving forward.
“My ankle is twice the size as it used to be when I’m just trying to relax” Mayfield said. “Every five years I got to have an ankle replacement, every ten years a hip replacement now because of everything that has happened”
Family members also spoke about the effect Christina Mayfield’s death has had on her children and criticized Shilling’s demeanor throughout the trial.
Her uncle, Thomas Proctor, told Shilling the consequences extended far beyond those directly involved in the crash.
“Matthew, your actions have affected many, many people, children raised without their mother, husband without his wife,” Proctor said.
After sentencing, Shilling told the judge he was unhappy with his legal representation. The judge said there was no probable cause to find that Shilling had not been effectively represented.
Shilling and the family had reached a settlement last year, according to previous reporting.