Jerene Matta (Queen of Spades, Washington)

Summary of Jerene Matta (Queen of Spades, Washington)

by Audiochuck

26m•October 8, 2025
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Summary — "Jerene Matta (Queen of Spades, Washington)" — The Deck / Audiochuck

Overview

This episode examines the 2013 murder of 62-year-old Jerene (Jareen) Matta in Yakima, Washington. Found bound, throat slashed, with her house set on fire and surveillance equipment removed, Matta’s death appears to be a violent, possibly robbery-motivated crime. Detective Drew Shaw and Yakima PD investigated, developed leads (including stolen bank withdrawals and nearby suspects), collected forensic evidence, but the case remains unresolved and is currently a cold/inactive investigation.

Key points & main takeaways

  • Date & scene:

    • Incident occurred December 7, 2013. House alarms triggered at 3:09 p.m. and 5:12 p.m.; fire department arrived ~5:35 p.m.
    • Jerene was found in a hallway, bound with duct tape (hands behind her back), throat slashed; her cat was also dead in the bathroom.
    • Per investigators, cause of death was smoke inhalation; she likely suffered significant assault prior to the fire.

  • Crime details:

    • Residence had extensive surveillance setup ("command center"). Multiple big-screen TVs/hard drives linked to cameras were missing—suggesting attackers targeted or removed evidence.
    • The attackers set a gasoline-fueled fire in a spare room—likely to destroy evidence and the body.

  • Witnesses & suspicious activity:

    • Blankets with vomit (later ID’d as from Jerene’s home) were found in the street nearby.
    • Eyewitness saw a sweating, coatless young man (~18–19) near Prash Ave around the time of the fire; a second man told him “Keep running.”
    • A green/teal Grand Prix was seen parked by Jerene’s house earlier in the day and again around 4:30 p.m., leaving ~30 minutes before fire services arrived.

  • Vehicle & suspect links:

    • Jerene’s pickup was recovered 4–5 blocks away in a college parking lot near the residence of Lloyd Calvert (a man with extensive arrest history).
    • Lloyd initially denied knowledge but later said he gave two known thieves a ride that evening; police consider Lloyd and those two people suspects. Lloyd has since died; his DNA excluded from the male DNA on the duct tape.
    • Surreptitious DNA samples from the two people who got a ride did not match the male DNA on the tape.

  • Forensics & bank evidence:

    • Bank account was accessed the night of the murder; ATM footage shows a hooded, balaclava-clad person withdrawing under $1,000 (identity obscured).
    • Forensic findings:
      • Female DNA under Jerene’s left fingernails — good enough for CODIS, but no CODIS hit to date.
      • Male DNA on the duct tape used to bind Jerene — not a CODIS-eligible sample.
      • Screwdriver found in the abandoned truck carried DNA that matched Jerene’s son Chris (explained by his frequent presence at the house; investigators found no evidence of his involvement).

  • Current case status:

    • Investigators believe motive was robbery (items for resale/drug money). They suspect multiple perpetrators.
    • Case remains cold/inactive but open; Detective Shaw remains committed to solving it.

Notable quotes / insights

  • Detective Shaw on the assault: “They used the entire roll [of duct tape].”
  • On the bank access lead: “I remembered, driving straight back to the office... I said, we got him.” (referring to evidence that the bank account was accessed)
  • Detective Shaw on the case’s status: “It’s a cold case. It’s inactive pending new information, but it will always be active to me... I won’t stop working on it until the day I can’t do this job anymore.”

Topics discussed

  • Homicide investigation and cold-case work
  • Arson as an effort to destroy evidence
  • Home surveillance systems and missing forensic material
  • Forensic DNA evidence (CODIS matches and limitations)
  • ATM/security camera evidence and its limits (masked suspect)
  • Witness reports and neighborhood canvassing
  • Police procedure (alarm response policy, search warrants, surreptitious DNA collection)
  • Community appeals and how to submit tips

Action items / recommendations (for public & investigators)

Public:

  • If you have information about Jerene Matta’s murder (sightings, the green/teal Grand Prix, persons seen that day, sale of electronics near Dec 2013), contact:
    • Yakima Police Department: 509-575-6200
    • CrimeStop (anonymous): 1-800-222-8477
    • Detective Drew Shaw direct: 509-576-6791

Investigative avenues suggested (what could be re-examined if pursuing the case):

  • Re-check ATM and nearby business CCTV for additional angles or timestamps; revisit image enhancement or AI-assisted identification.
  • Re-examine degraded DNA samples with newer forensic techniques (advanced NGS, familial search options where legally allowed).
  • Re-run CODIS periodically as new entries may produce a hit for the female profile under the fingernails.
  • Trace ownership/history of the green/teal Grand Prix and any related sales records or pawnshop/online listings for electronics matching Jerene’s missing gear.
  • Re-interview neighbors and witnesses, emphasizing timelines around 3:00–5:40 p.m., and ask about any suspicious sales/transactions in the weeks after the murder.
  • Investigate local pawnshops and online marketplaces for the stolen surveillance equipment or TVs, focusing on Dec 2013–early 2014.

If you want, I can:

  • Produce a concise timeline of events (minute-by-minute where possible).
  • List every physical evidence item collected and its forensic status.
  • Draft a public tip flyer text based on the case facts.