Matthew McGowan at the Snohomish County Courthouse on Jan. 30, 2020, in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / Herald file)

Matthew McGowan at the Snohomish County Courthouse on Jan. 30, 2020, in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / Herald file)

Sentence reduced 7 years for Everett man who tied man to tree to die

Matthew McGowan sought resentencing under a state Supreme Court ruling. Hundreds of other local defendants could follow.

EVERETT — A convicted murderer’s prison sentence was reduced by 7½ years Thursday, following a recent state Supreme Court decision.

A jury in November 2019 found Matthew McGowan guilty of first-degree murder for tying Michael Boone, 46, to a tree and leaving him to die in the cold at a secluded homeless camp off 41st Street in Everett.

The next February, he was sentenced to 45⅔ years.

About a year later, a state Supreme Court decision struck down Washington’s main drug possession statute. The ruling, known as the Blake decision, renders one of McGowan’s prior convictions moot, an appeals court decided.

This changed the sentencing range for McGowan, now 29. Under state guidelines, he faced a minimum of 34¼ years to 45⅔ years — the sentence he received. The Blake decision reduced both ends of the range by about three years.

Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Bruce Weiss handed McGowan a sentence of over 38 years Thursday. McGowan’s defense attorney pushed for just under 31 years in prison. A deputy prosecutor pushed for more than 41 years.

Hundreds of local defendants could get resentenced under the Blake ruling, Snohomish County Prosecutor Adam Cornell estimated Thursday. There are already about 200 pending resentencing. That number will only grow, he said.

“It’s going to take years,” Cornell said.

And about 70 people have already had their prison terms reduced under Blake in Snohomish County courts, the prosecutor said.

McGowan also appealed his conviction, arguing the trial court wrongfully admitted statements from Donita Burkley, who was also convicted in connection with the killing. The appeals court disagreed.

Burkley had been sentenced last year to three years and five months behind bars for second-degree manslaughter and second-degree robbery. Darron Weidman was sentenced to five years and one month in prison for setting in motion the robbery that resulted in Boone’s death.

McGowan testified at his trial that he had no part in Boone’s killing. In remarks delivered Thursday via video conference from prison, McGowan again maintained his innocence, but apologized to the victim’s family.

“I stand before you today humbled by the intricacies and fragility of life,” he said.

In the hours leading up to New Year’s Day 2019, Boone asked Weidman if he could help him to buy sex from Burkley, according to charging papers. Instead of following through with the request, Weidman planned to rob the 5-foot-2 homeless man, and McGowan joined the plot.

They watched Boone check his account at an ATM and saw he only had $6.

But someone in the group noticed Boone had cash on him, according to Weidman’s testimony. Security footage showed the group walking south on Broadway in Everett. Weidman split off and went back to his camp to grab a knife. But he stayed there and got high, according to his statements to police.

Boone and Burkley went to a makeshift camp in the woods, behind Rucker tomb.

There, while Burkley distracted him, McGowan rushed up, beat Boone with a stick and put him in a kind of chokehold until he passed out, according to the charges. Then he tied him up with his own belt to a tree. Prosecutors believe he and Burkley left him there on a frigid night.

A passerby found Boone on Jan. 4, 2019, wearing only a shirt, underwear and one sock. He died of hypothermia, according to the Snohomish County Medical Examiner’s Office. The death was classified as homicide.

Boone’s family listened to the hearing Thursday over Zoom.

Weiss said he was “very concerned” about Burkley’s sentence, given her role in the plot that ended in Boone’s death. He concluded McGowan should no longer get the sternest possible sentence.

“It does not amend or change the facts of the case,” Weiss said in court Thursday. He added: “Mr. Boone, although he was homeless, had a right to live like anybody else.”

Jake Goldstein-Street: 425-339-3439; jake.goldstein-street@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @GoldsteinStreet.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Employees and patrons of the Everett Mall signed a timeline mural that traces the history of the 51-year-old indoor mall that was once considered the premier place to go shopping in the city. Thursday, March 20, 2025 (Aaron Kennedy / The Herald)
Mall mural offers nostalgic trip into the past

Past and present Everett Mall employees joined customers Thursday to view an artistic timeline of the once popular shopping mecca.

Edmonds Mayor Mike Rosen gives his State of the City address on Thursday, March 20 in Edmonds, Washington. (Will Geschke / The Herald)
Edmonds mayor talks budget at 2025 State of the City

Mayor Mike Rosen discussed the city’s deficit and highlights from his first year in office.

Public’s help needed to find missing Arlington man

The 21-year-old left the house Sunday night without his shoes, cell phone or a jacket, and was reported missing the following morning.

The Marysville Tulalip Campus on the Tulalip Reservation, where Legacy High School is located. (Will Geschke / The Herald)
Marysville board votes to keep Legacy High at current location

The move rolls back a decision the school board made in January to move the alternative high school at the start of next school year.

The former Marysville City Hall building along State Avenue on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
City of Marysville, school board amend property exchange

The city will relocate its public works facility to the district’s current headquarters, which will move to the former City Hall.

Snohomish County Elections employees Alice Salcido, left and Joseph Rzeckowski, right, pull full bins of ballots from the Snohomish County Campus ballot drop box on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County to mail ballots for Edmonds, Brier elections

Registered voters should receive their ballots by April 9 for the April 22 special election.

A stormwater diversion structure which has been given a notice for repairs along a section of the Perrinville Creek north of Stamm Overlook Park that flows into Browns Bay in Edmonds, Washington on Thursday, July 18, 2024. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Edmonds Hearing Examiner decides on Perrinville Creek saga

The examiner revoked the city’s Determination of Non-Significance, forcing Edmonds to address infrastructure issues on the creek

Don Sharrett talks John Wrice through his trimming technique on Friday, March 14, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett barber school offers $5 haircuts — if you’re brave enough

Students get hands-on practice. Willing clients get a sweet deal.

Our Lady of Hope Fr. Joseph Altenhofen outside of his parish’s building that will be the new home of Hope ‘N Wellness on Wednesday, March 5, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Hope ‘N Wellness location to open Wednesday in Everett

Our Lady of Hope Church will host the social service organization at 2617 Cedar St. in Everett.

Amtrak Cascades train 517 to Portland departs from Everett Station on Saturday, Sep. 2, 2023, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Limited train service to resume on Amtrak Cascades

Trains will have less capacity for now, but service is expected to resume for some routes as early as Tuesday.

Marysville
Police: 66-year-old Marysville man dead from fatal stabbing

A neighbor found the man unconscious on the sidewalk as the result of an apparent stabbing. Police said they are looking for suspects.

Logo for news use featuring Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Driver, suspected of DUI, hits WSP vehicle on I-5 near Everett

The trooper was blocking the HOV lane for a previous collision when his vehicle was struck Saturday morning.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.