Arroyo Grande man convicted of torturing his foster mother
August 27, 2021
Matthew Leroy Ehens
By JOSH FRIEDMAN
An Arroyo Grande man pleaded no contest on Wednesday to charges of torture and elder abuse over an incident in which he poured boiling oil on his 79-year-old foster mother, then stabbed her.
On Aug. 2, Matthew Leroy Ehens, 38, started an argument with his foster mother at their Arroyo Grande home. Ehens poured boiling peanut oil on her upper body and face. He then stabbed her in the back with a large knife and fled, according to the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office.
A high-speed police chase ensued, ending with Ehens crashing his vehicle. Officers then arrested him.
The 79-year-old woman suffered serious burns over 17% of her body. She was hospitalized for a month and underwent extensive medical treatment, including a skin grafting operation.
Ehens’ sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 20 in the courtroom of Judge Jacquelyn Duffy.
“The victim is a courageous survivor of a horrible crime inflicted on her by a person whom she raised,” District Attorney Dan Dow said in a statement. “Our community will not tolerate elder abuse. I encourage those who suffer from or witness elder abuse to report these crimes to law enforcement.”
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