A cross-country pursuit fueled by a domestic vendetta ended in a double fatality this week after an Arizona man traveled to Alaska to assassinate his former father-in-law and attempt to murder his ex-wife.
Authorities have identified the suspect as Matthew Thomas Becker, 61, the owner of a well-known Arizona comedy club. Following a manhunt, Becker’s body was discovered Sunday morning in a wooded area near the Eagle River Campground, approximately 15 miles from the initial crime scene. The Anchorage Medical Examiner is currently working to determine his cause of death.
The Ambush at the Salon
The violence began on Saturday, March 14, when Becker’s ex-wife arrived at her Anchorage hair salon. According to court records, she discovered the locks had been tampered with, preventing her entry. As she stood outside, Becker reportedly leaped from a vehicle and opened fire.
The woman managed to flee the immediate area and hide, successfully contacting emergency dispatchers. While her specific injuries have not been fully disclosed, she survived the encounter. During her initial statement to police, she expressed immediate fear for her father’s safety, leading officers to conduct a welfare check at his residence.
Discovery of the Victims
Upon arriving at the home, Anchorage Police discovered the body of Romaine Clark, 87. Clark, the suspect’s former father-in-law, had been fatally shot.
The investigation quickly shifted to a search for Becker, who had traveled nearly 3,000 miles from his home in Bisbee, Arizona, to carry out the attacks.
| Victim | Age | Status |
| Romaine Clark | 87 | Deceased (Gunshot) |
| Unnamed Female | Undisclosed | Survived (Attempted Murder) |
| Matthew Becker | 61 | Deceased (Under Investigation) |
A Reputation Ruined: “He Ruined Everything”
Becker was a prominent figure in the Bisbee, Arizona, arts scene as a stand-up comedian and the owner of Chuckleheads, a local comedy venue. His brother informed local media that Becker had recently received a terminal cancer diagnosis, a detail that has added a layer of grim complexity to the investigation.
However, those who worked alongside him at the comedy club were swift to condemn his actions. In a scathing and emotional statement released Tuesday, the Chuckleheads team distanced themselves from the owner.
“His last actions ruined every positive memory I had of him,” the statement read. “Matt ruined everything that the team at Chuckleheads ever tried to build. There’s no convoluted cancer-medicated-induced rational argument that will ever bring that dad back.”
Investigative Outlook
The Anchorage Police Department continues to process evidence from the two primary scenes: the salon where the attempted murder occurred and the wooded area where Becker’s body was recovered. While the primary suspect is deceased, investigators are tracing Becker’s travel history and any potential accomplices who may have assisted in his travel or the acquisition of weapons despite his medical condition.
