NEW JERSEY MAN TO SERVE 40 YEARS IN THE DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS FOR SECOND DEGREE MURDER
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NOVEMBER 20, 2025
NEW JERSEY MAN TO SERVE 40 YEARS IN THE DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS FOR SECOND DEGREE MURDER
Frederick, MD – Today, in Frederick County Circuit Court, The Honorable Scott Rolle, ordered 48-year-old Matthew Sidney Watley, of Sicklerville, New Jersey, to serve the maximum sentence of 40 years, in the Division of Corrections for one count second-degree murder. The Defendant pleaded guilty on October 21, 2025 in Frederick County Circuit Court. The Defendant will receive credit for time served starting September 24, 2023.
On September 24, 2023 at 1:31 a.m., deputies were dispatched to 5236 Intercoastal Drive in New Market, MD at the Costco Depot for a welfare check. Dispatch advised that Costco security was out with a male subject yelling and screaming at his truck, destroying its interior. Security then advised the male subject had cut himself after punching the windshield, and then proceeded to sound the horn. Deputies from the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office arrived on scene and met with Costco Security located at the entrance of the campus. Security explained that a trailer had been disengaged abruptly from its cab and had been drug for several feet. When deputies made contact with the defendant, who was operating the vehicle, they observed the driver speaking incoherently and refusing their commands to shut off the vehicle’s engine. Deputies placed stop sticks behind the rear wheels of the tractor trailer. Additional deputies arrived on scene when the defendant began driving the vehicle towards the gate house. Upon relocating the stop sticks to the front side of the tires, deputies again attempted to speak with the defendant. The defendant proceeded to run over the stop sticks and into the complex parking lot. Wheel chocks were eventually thrown under all wheels after the suspect made several additional starts and stops with the truck. Deputies were able to deflate the tires and commanded the driver to exit the vehicle, placing him in handcuffs. The driver had what appeared to be blood on his shirt, hands, and face.
Upon searching the cab of the vehicle, Deputy Storm, of the FCSO, observed a female, identified as 46-year-old Candice Thompson, also of Sicklerville, New Jersey, lying face down on the floor of the cab. Ms. Thompson was the domestic partner of the Defendant at the time of the incident. The victim appeared to have multiple stab wounds to her back. EMS arrived on scene and pronounced the victim deceased at 3:00 a.m. Candice Thompson’s body was transported to the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Baltimore, Maryland. Based on the injuries observed on Candice Thompson’s body, the preliminary cause of death was identified as blunt and sharp force trauma.
The defendant, while detained, was transported to Frederick Health Hospital. Although an arrest warrant was issued for Matthew Sidney Watley for the murder of Candice Thompson, he remained at Frederick Health Hospital for medical and mental health treatment.
Detectives learned that Candice Thompson and Matthew Watley were in a dating relationship and had a history of domestic violence in New Jersey with the Winslow Township Police Department.
State’s Attorney Charlie Smith stated, “What a tragic loss of life. My heart goes out to the family. Domestic violence homicides are becoming epidemic in our country. These violent offenders need to be treated harshly at the outset before they go on to take the life of their intimate partner.”
The victim’s mother addressed the Court in her Victim Impact Statement saying, “I don’t want to live after what this monster did to my daughter; he destroyed my family.”
Deputy State’s Attorney, Kirsten Brown and Chief, Violent Crimes Unit Ricky Lewis represented the State of Maryland.
Press Contact:
Jacqueline Rottmann
Court Media Relations Officer
301-600-2972
100 West Patrick Street
Frederick, Maryland 21701
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