His Story
Matthew Ryan Rademacher
A farmer. A father figure. An innocent man who has spent six years behind bars for something he did not do.
Matthew Ryan Rademacher
Before the case, there was a man.
Matthew Ryan Rademacher was virtually raised by his grandparents, and grew up in Ionia County, Michigan — farming country, the kind of place where people know their neighbors and show up when it matters. He is a farmer and contractor, part of a well-known and established local family. He is not a violent person. He has no history of abuse. He is someone who loved a little boy named Colton. all the news you'll see about the case so far only show the erroneous side, tragedies cause us to seek a villain even when there is none, like in this case. we want Coltons True Story to be told.
Colton Sceviour was two years old. He was basically Matthew's stepson — a child Matthew helped raise, a child he loved deeply. What happened to Colton was a tragedy. Let's not continue to destroy another innocent life.
What actually happened
The sequence of events that led to Matthew's wrongful conviction — and the legal failures that made it possible.
The Accident
Two-year-old Colton Sceviour fell from the top of bleachers at a softball game. It was a witnessed accident. Colton appeared to recover initially, but the fall had caused internal injuries that were not immediately apparent.
Matthew Was Caring for Colton
Matthew was home with Colton when the boy suddenly lost consciousness. Matthew did not understand what was happening — he thought Colton was choking. He called for help immediately. Colton never regained consciousness and died shortly after.
The Arrest
Despite the earlier bleacher accident, investigators focused on Matthew. He was arrested and charged with first-degree murder (felony murder) and first-degree child abuse. He maintained his innocence from the beginning.
The Trial — and the Critical Failure
At trial, Matthew's defense attorney never called a pathologist to testify. This was not a strategic decision — it was later found to be unlawful. Some of the top doctors in the country had reviewed the case and were prepared to testify that Colton's death was consistent with the earlier bleacher fall, not abuse. The jury never heard from them.
The Conviction
An Ionia County jury convicted Matthew of first-degree murder and first-degree child abuse. He was sentenced to life in prison. His family and friends were devastated — but they did not stop fighting.
The Conviction Is Overturned
The judge himself overturned Matthew's conviction on grounds of improper counsel. The failure to call a pathologist — a basic and essential element of the defense — was found to be a violation of Matthew's right to competent legal representation. A new trial was ordered.
Still Imprisoned — Still Fighting
Despite the overturned conviction, Matthew remains incarcerated at Ionia County Correctional Center. The prosecutor is now attempting to block the same expert medical testimony from being used in the new trial — the very testimony that could have prevented this injustice in the first place. Matthew has nowhere to go but home to his family's farm. He is no danger to anyone.
Firsthand Account
A firsthand account
Clay Cross, founder of the CCross Catholic Ministry, spent months visiting Matthew at Ionia County Jail — reading through his documents, playing cards with him, eating together daily, and looking the man in the eye. This is his assessment.
"I believe he is a man of high integrity, and that that child sadly died by an accident that had nothing to do with Matt. That is my personal judgment, not a court finding. I pray that the renewed legal process considers every admissible fact fairly and brings Truth into the Light. My prayers go out to Colton's family and friends — I'm so sorry for your loss."
— Clay Cross, CCross Catholic Ministry
Remembering Colton
Colton Sceviour was a very loved child. His death was a tragedy that devastated everyone who knew him — including Matthew. This campaign does not minimize Colton's loss. It insists that justice for Colton means finding the truth, not punishing an innocent man. Colton deserves the truth too.
Now you know the story.
Read the evidence, sign the petition, or write Matthew a postcard. Every action matters.