A Pierce County judge is expected to decide the fate of Nicholas Fitzgerald Matthew today, May 29, 2026, closing a closely watched case that began with a brutal daytime trail attack at Point Defiance Park and unfolded through months of courtroom drama and questions about his mental fitness. Tacoma residents have been tracking the case since the February 2024 stabbing during a midday walk on one of the park’s popular trails.
A Pierce County jury found 29-year-old Matthew guilty in August 2025 of first-degree attempted murder after prosecutors said he ambushed 34-year-old architect Victoria Nizzoli and stabbed her multiple times on a Blue Trail, according to The News Tribune. Investigators linked him to the scene using DNA evidence and license-plate images, and jurors heard from Nizzoli along with several parkgoers who rushed in, pulled the attacker off her, and helped stop the assault.
As reported by KING 5, Matthew is scheduled to be sentenced in Pierce County Superior Court today. The KING 5 coverage includes video from the courthouse, showing the timing of the hearing and people arriving for the proceedings.
Competency Fight Delayed Earlier Hearings
The case was slowed by repeated disputes over Matthew’s mental competency. In October 2025, a judge ordered him to spend 90 days in inpatient treatment at Western State Hospital after a forensic psychologist concluded he likely lacked the capacity to help with his own defense, which pushed back an earlier sentencing date, The News Tribune reported. Court records show Matthew had previously been in state psychiatric treatment, and his mental-health history became a central issue during pretrial hearings.
Victim Testimony And Park Safety
Nizzoli testified that she first felt a sudden blow and then realized she was being stabbed again and again. Witnesses told jurors they dragged the attacker off her and kicked him until he ran away. She later identified Matthew in court, according to KIRO 7. The February 2024 attack prompted Metro Parks officials to put a sharper focus on trail safety around Point Defiance, including loop-trail upgrades and other safety projects outlined by Parks Tacoma.
Legal Note
Matthew was convicted of first-degree attempted murder with a deadly-weapon sentencing enhancement, a detail prosecutors highlighted in closing arguments that could influence how long he is locked up, according to The Spokesman-Review. At the sentencing hearing, both sides may present victim impact statements and argue over whether any remaining concerns about competency should factor into the court’s decision.
The hearing is expected to put more of the case on the public record as the judge rules on Matthew’s sentence in open court. Court observers and family members were already gathered at Pierce County Superior Court on Friday, and the judge’s ruling will be formally recorded once it is announced from the bench.
