Matthew White (basketball)

Matt White
Personal information
Born(1957-08-15)August 15, 1957
New York City, New York
DiedFebruary 11, 2013(2013-02-11) (aged 55)
Nether Providence Township, Pennsylvania
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Career information
High schoolChoate (Wallingford, Connecticut)
CollegePenn (1976–1979)
NBA draft1979: 5th round, 100th overall pick
Selected by the Portland Trail Blazers
PositionCenter
Career history
1979–1980Valladolid
1980–1981RC Náutico Tenerife
1986–1988Cacaolat Granollers
1988–1990Puleva Baloncesto Granada
1990–1992Valvi Girona
1992–1993Gijón
Stats Edit this at Wikidata at Basketball-Reference.com

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]

References

  1. ^ "Pennsylvania: Matthew White killed by wife". The Guardian Express. 14 February 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
  2. ^ "Matthew White, member of '79 Final Four team, killed by his wife". VOXXI. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
  3. ^ "Matt White". Liga Endesa. ACB.COM. Archived from the original on May 4, 2012. Retrieved February 15, 2013.
  4. ^ "Slain Penn star's wife guilt but mentally ill". Philadelphia: Access Philly. 9 December 2014. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  5. ^ "Wife charged with killing ex-Penn basketball star over porn". Philly.com. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
  6. ^ a b Tony, Mike. "Friends remember Penn hoops alum Matt White one year later". thedp.com.
  7. ^ "Nether Providence woman found guilty but mentally ill of killing husband". www.delcotimes.com. Archived from the original on 2014-12-16.
  8. ^ "Archives | The Philadelphia Inquirer". inquirer.com.