Matthew White (basketball) explained

Matt White
Position:Center
Height Ft:6
Height In:10
Birth Date:15 August 1957
Birth Place:New York City, New York
Nationality:American
Death Place:Nether Providence Township, Pennsylvania
Highschool:Choate (Wallingford, Connecticut)
College:Penn (1976–1979)
Draft Year:1979
Draft Round:5
Draft Pick:100
Draft Team:Portland Trail Blazers
Years1:1979–1980
Team1:Valladolid
Years2:1980–1981
Team2:RC Náutico Tenerife
Years3:1986–1988
Team3:Cacaolat Granollers
Years4:1988–1990
Years5:1990–1992
Team5:Valvi Girona
Years6:1992–1993

Matthew Preston White "Matt" Wangler (August 15, 1957 – February 11, 2013) was an American basketball player for the University of Pennsylvania, and was later drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers. He helped lead Penn into the final four of the 1979 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament.[1] [2] He played professionally in the Liga ACB for Valladolid Miñón/Grupo Libro Valladolid, RC Náutico Tenerife, Cacaolat Granollers, Puleva Baloncesto Granada and Valvi Girona.[3]

Death

White was killed by his wife Maria Reyes Garcia-Pellon, a native of Spain, after she allegedly observed him watching child pornography. Police found no pornography on any of the computers in their home.[4] She stabbed him several times in the throat.[5] In court proceedings, a plea of temporary insanity was entered. His wife was suffering from schizo-affective disorder at the time and had been off her medication.[6] Matthew had attempted to have her admitted to a psychiatric care center the day before his death, but was only able to make an appointment for the following day.[6] In December 2014 a court dropped the murder charges during a bench trial, and she was subsequently found guilty but mentally ill of voluntary manslaughter.[7] She was paroled pending availability of a bed at Norristown State Hospital[8]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Pennsylvania: Matthew White killed by wife. 14 February 2013. The Guardian Express. 14 February 2013.
  2. Web site: Matthew White, member of '79 Final Four team, killed by his wife. VOXXI. 14 February 2013. dead. https://archive.today/20130412043213/http://www.voxxi.com/matthew-white-killed-by-his-wife/. 12 April 2013.
  3. Web site: Matt White. Liga Endesa. ACB.COM. February 15, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20120504064556/http://www.acb.com/jugador.php?id=ABY. May 4, 2012. dead.
  4. News: Slain Penn star's wife guilt but mentally ill. Access Philly. 29 March 2016. Philadelphia. 9 December 2014.
  5. Web site: Wife charged with killing ex-Penn basketball star over porn. Philly.com. 14 February 2013.
  6. Web site: Friends remember Penn hoops alum Matt White one year later. Mike. Tony. thedp.com.
  7. Web site: Nether Providence woman found guilty but mentally ill of killing husband . www.delcotimes.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141216035321/http://www.delcotimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?Ref=AR&category=NEWS&date=20141209&lopenr=141209595&source=topstoriesrot . 2014-12-16.
  8. Web site: Archives | The Philadelphia Inquirer. inquirer.com.