UMVA has learned that a horrific murder on an Atlanta train has left a community in shock, with new details emerging about the brutal killing of a great-grandmother.
The victim, 66-year-old Margaret Swan, was stabbed to death on a MARTA train near the Oakland City Station in Atlanta on Saturday, shortly after 12 pm. Emergency medical workers desperately tried to save her at the scene, but she succumbed to her injuries.
Sources have confirmed to UMVA that several bystanders witnessed the horrific murder, which was captured on CCTV video footage. The footage shows Swan sitting alone on the train car when the suspect, 25-year-old John Elijah Matthews, walked over to her and sat next to her.
In a chilling sequence of events, Matthews took out a knife and slashed Swan's throat. The warrants obtained by UMVA reveal that Swan screamed and tried to get up from her seat, but Matthews held her and continued stabbing her.
The CCTV cameras captured Matthews throwing Swan to the floor and standing near her until the train arrived at the Oakland City Station, less than two minutes later. He then got out of the train with the murder weapon still in his hand as officers rushed to the scene.
According to information obtained by UMVA, Swan was stabbed up to 20 times. Her daughter, who was a traveler on the MARTA train, described her mother as a loving family woman with five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Matthews has been charged with murder in the sickening slaying. Searches of court and jail records have not immediately indicated whether he has any prior criminal history in the area.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the full extent of the crime has left authorities and the community reeling, with many calling for increased safety measures on public transportation.
