CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Michigan — A Michigan man has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after being convicted of murdering his girlfriend, concealing her body inside his home for more than seven months, and attempting to dispose of her remains, prosecutors announced.
Matthew Lewinski, 42, received the sentence Tuesday in Macomb County Circuit Court for the December 2020 killing of Courtney “Jerri” Winters, 52. The sentencing follows a jury’s guilty verdict last month on multiple felony charges, bringing an end to a case that remained tied up in the courts for more than five years.
Prosecutors Say Argument Ended in Deadly Strangulation
According to prosecutors, Winters visited Lewinski’s home in December 2020, where the couple argued after she told him she had undergone an abortion. Investigators said the confrontation turned violent, and Lewinski strangled her to death.
Authorities said Lewinski initially placed Winters’ body in a bathtub before moving it to the basement. Prosecutors alleged he kept her remains inside the home for months and periodically removed portions of the body in an effort to conceal the crime.
A jury ultimately convicted Lewinski of first-degree premeditated murder, disinterment and mutilation of a dead body, and concealing the death of an individual.
Remains Discovered Seven Months Later
The crime remained hidden until July 2021, when neighbors reportedly found Lewinski wandering around his condominium complex in his underwear while appearing disoriented.
After he was hospitalized, his sister entered the home and discovered Winters’ remains in the basement before contacting authorities.
Investigators later interviewed Lewinski at the hospital, where prosecutors said he confessed to killing Winters.
Confession Sparked Lengthy Legal Battle
Lewinski’s confession became one of the central issues in the case after defense attorneys argued it should be excluded because investigators had not advised him of his Miranda rights before questioning.
A trial judge initially ruled the confession inadmissible, but the Michigan Court of Appeals later overturned that decision, allowing prosecutors to present the statement during trial.
The case eventually went before a jury in May 2026, more than five years after Winters’ death.
Judge Imposes Life Sentence
On Tuesday, Macomb County Circuit Court Judge Rachel Rancilio sentenced Lewinski to life imprisonment without parole for the murder conviction. He also received an additional sentence of 23 months to 10 years for disinterment and mutilation of a dead body, along with 365 days for concealing a death.
Following the sentencing, Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido said the ruling marks the end of a painful legal process for the victim’s family.
“This sentence represents the final chapter in a long and difficult pursuit of justice for Jerri Winters and her loved ones,” Lucido said. “While no outcome can erase the pain of losing a loved one, we hope this resolution provides the victim’s family with a sense of closure and peace as they continue to move forward.”
The prosecution argued that the sentence reflects the seriousness of the crimes and the years-long effort to secure justice for Winters.
The charges against Lewinski have now resulted in a conviction, and the life sentence concludes one of Macomb County’s longest-running homicide prosecutions in recent years.
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