DENVER – A man was taken into custody after stabbing his estranged wife and the wife’s friend to death, according to a probable cause statement in the case obtained by Denver7 Wednesday.
Matthew Madden, 36, is facing first-degree murder charges, a Class 1 felony, for the deadly stabbing that occurred at a home near the intersection of S. Marion Street and E. Warren Avenue shortly after midnight Wednesday.
Police arrived at the home following a report of a domestic violence incident at around 12:19 a.m. Once there, they confronted by Madden, who was reportedly holding a knife and had blood over his body.
Madden was given commands by police but allegedly refused, according to the probable cause statement, after which a Taser was deployed to bring the suspect under control.
Arresting documents show he was taken to Denver Health Medical Center for surgery after first responders found he had lacerations to his neck, chest and arms, which they said he inflicted upon himself. He remains in critical condition, according to police.
While combing the scene of the crime, police found two women fatally stabbed to death. One of the women was Madden’s wife, the other one was his wife’s friend, police said. Two children were also found sleeping inside the house.
The probable cause statement shows Madden and his wife had moved into the house in the spring of 2021, but that Madden moved out around the beginning of summer.
A GoFundMe page says the friend of the woman who was killed lost her husband to a heart attack in early September and is raising money for the couple’s two children, ages 17 and 14.
There is also a memorial fund that has been created at Wray State Bank in Wray in the children’s names.
On Friday, the Denver Office of the Medical Examiner identified the two victims as Katherine Pivoda, 33, and Jennifer Gelvin, 49. Both of the causes of death were sharp force injuries and manners of death were homicide.
No other details about the case were released. Anybody with information is asked to call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867.