Phoenix family seeks answers in the unexplained death of their son | Arizona News

By Randall Perry On Jul 21, 2021

A family continues to seek justice three years after their son was murdered in Phoenix for his backpack.

PHOENIX (3TV / CBS 5) – Three years too long. It has been three years since a 26-year-old Valley man was killed because of his backpack, according to police.

These are the last moments in Matthew Groves’ life. “He came through here on his skateboard, the camera shows him disappearing,” said his mother, Katherine Kirkconnell.

Kirkconnell shared a surveillance video from that night showing Groves stepping onto a sidewalk near the Purple Turtle Sports Bar on Indian School Road and 51st Avenue.

“We see this boy walk over where my son was and run very fast with his backpack,” said Kirkconnell.

Phoenix police said there was a brief battle that took place out of view of the camera. Groves was shot and killed, and the suspect is still at large.

“I think there are some people out there who are very scared and know what happened,” said Kirkconnell.

But Matthew’s memory lives on even in death. “My son was loved,” said Kirkconnell.

Groves’ organs have helped save the lives of 5 people. The heart recipient recently reached out to Katherine. “He had a wife and they just had a newborn baby girl and my son’s heart was clearing. When he wrote to me, he expressed his gratitude,” said Kirkconnell.

The family hired a private investigator to investigate Groves’ death after an initial arrest resulted in nowhere. There is currently a $ 10,000 reward available for clues leading to an arrest. “If they knew my son, they’d probably look out there ten times to find that person,” said Kirkconnell.

If you have any information, please call Investigator Kelley Townsend at 480-251-7373. You can also contact the Phoenix Police Department at 602-262-6151 or Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS.