A celebrated chef at the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Amherst who won a national culinary award last year has been charged with first-degree murder after allegedly beating his wife to death inside an on-campus hotel room on Wednesday evening.
Jeffrey MacDonald, 36, of Wilbraham, pleaded not guilty to one count of murder and one count of assault and battery on a police officer during his arraignment at Eastern Hampshire District Court on Thursday. He is being held without bail.
Campus police received a 911 call at 7:42 p.m. Wednesday reporting an emergency in Room 413 at Hotel UMass. Upon arrival, officers encountered MacDonald and a violent struggle broke out. He allegedly threw multiple objects at the officers and struck a UMass police officer in the face. After being restrained, MacDonald admitted to investigators that he had intentionally beaten his wife to death “using his hands, feet, as well as a variety of blunt objects,” and that it was his intent to kill her in doing so.
Emma MacDonald, 31, whose maiden name was Pasterczyk, had held multiple roles at the university since 2019, most recently as a dining hall supervisor. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Court records also revealed that MacDonald had been accused of physically and verbally assaulting his two children in 2024, with the children’s mother raising the allegations in a family court filing.
UMass Chancellor Javier Reyes addressed the campus community on Thursday, describing the news as heartbreaking. “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, adding that limited information was being withheld to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation.
MacDonald, who served as executive sous chef for UMass Dining, was named Chef of the Year by the American Culinary Federation (ACF) in August 2025. The university described the honor at the time as a testament to his “talent, leadership, and commitment to advancing the culinary profession.”
His court-appointed lawyer has requested that MacDonald be evaluated for competency to stand trial. A probable cause hearing is scheduled for May 12.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or visit thehotline.org.
