Christine Belford was tragically killed in a courthouse shooting in Wilmington, Delaware, on February 11, 2013.
Christine Belford, a mother of three, was involved in a bitter custody dispute with her ex-husband, David Matusiewicz. On the day of the incident, she arrived at the New Castle County Courthouse for a child support hearing. As she entered the lobby, she was confronted by her former father-in-law, Thomas Matusiewicz. He opened fire, fatally shooting Christine Belford and her friend, Laura “Beth” Mulford, before turning the gun on himself after a shootout with police officers.
The shooting was the culmination of a long and acrimonious legal battle between Christine Belford and her ex-husband, which included allegations of kidnapping and international flight. In 2007, David Matusiewicz kidnapped the couple’s three daughters and took them to Central America, where they were found and returned to the United States in 2009. He subsequently served time in prison for kidnapping and bank fraud.
The tragedy highlighted issues of domestic violence, courtroom security, and the dangers that can arise in high-conflict custody disputes. In the aftermath, David Matusiewicz; his mother, Lenore; and his sister, Amy Gonzalez, were tried and convicted on federal stalking charges that led to Christine Belford’s death, marking the first time federal cyberstalking laws resulted in convictions for murder. The case underscored the importance of taking threats and harassment seriously in the context of domestic and legal disputes.