‘Chef of the Year’ allegedly beat wife to death in hotel room

AMHERST, Mass. (TCN) -- A man who was named 2025’s Chef of the Year by the American Culinary Federation has been charged with murder after his wife was found beaten to death inside a college campus hotel room.

CBS News reports that on April 23, police were called to the UMass Campus Center hotel after receiving a report of an emergency. When they arrived, one of the officers was hit in the face when the suspect, 36-year-old Jeffrey MacDonald, allegedly threw objects in their direction. Inside the hotel room, responding officers found the body of MacDonald’s wife, named as Emma MacDonald by Law & Crime. She was deceased and appeared to have been violently assaulted. 

MacDonald allegedly admitted to investigators that he used his feet, hands, and objects to beat his wife, and that his intention had been to kill her, per CBS.

The Northwestern District Attorney announced MacDonald pleaded not guilty to one murder charge and one charge of assault and battery against a police officer at his arraignment on April 23.

On July 29, 2025, the American Culinary Federation named MacDonald Chef of the Year. According to a press release on the UMass website, “This distinguished honor is a testament to MacDonald’s talent, leadership, and commitment to advancing the culinary profession.”

Law & Crime reports that during a custody hearing in 2024, Emma MacDonald asked the judge for sole custody, alleging that MacDonald was verbally and physically abusive to both her and her children; the children had reportedly asked not to see their father anymore.

According to UMass Amherst Chancellor Javier Reyes, Emma MacDonald was also employed at the university, CBS News reports. 

The DA said MacDonald will remain held without bail until his next appearance in court on May 12. He has been ordered to undergo a competency evaluation, per Law & Crime.