CHESAPEAKE, Va. — The man found guilty of murdering his estranged wife amid divorce proceedings in 2022 has been sentenced to nearly seven decades behind bars, the Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney City of Chesapeake announced on Tuesday.
A judge sentenced Matthew Wynkoop to 68 years in prison on a slew of charges, including murder, armed burglary, and possessing a firearm while the subject of a protective order. The 48-year-old's sentencing comes nearly a year after a jury found him guilty of killing Kathryn Dean.
During the sentencing hearing, the Commonwealth said Dean's parents and two children from a former marriage gave emotional testimonials.
Court documents show Dean filed a protective order against Wynkoop that a judge issued on March 23, nearly two weeks before she died. The protective order would have lasted for a year. As part of the order, Wynkoop was prohibited from contacting Dean, had to stay away from her home, and was forced to either surrender or sell his firearms.
Despite the order, on April 4, 2022, the Wynkoop traveled from North Carolina to Dean's home on Willow Oak Drive in Chesapeake. There, 911 received a call of a man and woman arguing before gunshots rang out.
Responding officers found Dean dead on the floor of her garage.
Wynkoop was not at the scene when police arrived but was later found in Currituck County and subsequently confessed to getting rid of the gun used, according to the Commonwealth.
