mattsinnocent.com
Matthew Ryan Rademacher Is Innocent.
Convicted in 2021 for the accidental death of a child he loved — his conviction has since been overturned. He is still behind bars.
Who is Matthew?
A farmer, a father figure, a man who lost everything.
Matthew Ryan Rademacher is a farmer and contractor from a well-established local family in Michigan. In 2020, he was caring for his beloved two-year-old stepson Colton Sceviour — a child he loved deeply — when Colton, who had fallen from bleachers at a softball game days earlier, lost consciousness and never recovered. Matthew didn't understand what was happening. He thought Colton was choking. He lost his step-baby, then was arrested, tried, and convicted of first-degree murder. He has spent six years locked up for an accident.
"I spent months with Matthew at Ionia County Jail — reading through his documents, playing cards with him, eating together daily, and looking the man in the eye. 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."
— Clay Cross, CCross Catholic Ministry, who visited Matthew personally
The Case
A timeline of events
The facts of this case tell a story that demands a second look.
2020 — The Accident
Two-year-old Colton Sceviour fell from the top of bleachers at a softball game. Days later, while in Matthew's care, Colton lost consciousness and never recovered. Matthew believed he was choking and did not understand what was happening.
2021 — The Trial
Matthew was convicted of first-degree murder (felony murder) and first-degree child abuse by an Ionia County jury. Critically, his defense attorney never called a pathologist to testify — a decision later found to be unlawful.
The Conviction Overturned
The judge himself overturned Matthew's conviction on grounds of improper counsel. Some of the top doctors in the country had testified that Colton's death was an accident, not abuse.
Today — Still Imprisoned
Despite the overturned conviction, Matthew remains incarcerated at Ionia County Correctional Center. The prosecutor is blocking the same expert medical testimony from being used in the new trial. Matthew has nowhere to go but home to his family's farm.
The Facts
The facts don't add up.
A closer look at the evidence raises serious questions about the integrity of this conviction — questions a judge has already agreed with.
The judge overturned the conviction himself, citing improper counsel — Matthew's lawyer never called a pathologist to testify, which was found to be unlawful.
Some of the top doctors in the country testified that Colton's death was an accident, not abuse. The prosecutor is now blocking that same testimony from the new trial.
Matthew is a farmer and contractor with no history of violence. He has proven he is no danger to himself or others, yet remains imprisoned while the court system corrects its own mistake.
Take Action
You can make a difference.
Every signature, every dollar, and every share brings Matthew one step closer to justice.
Sign the Petition
Add your name to the growing list of people demanding Matthew be released on bond while the court corrects its mistake.
Sign NowDonate to His Defense
Legal representation costs money. Your contribution directly funds the fight to bring Matthew home to his family.
DonateSend Matthew a Postcard
Matthew is at Ionia County Correctional Center (Case ID 118443). Plain white postcards only — include your return address.
Get the AddressWrite to Matthew
Let him know he hasn't been forgotten.
Matthew is currently held at Ionia County Correctional Center. You can send him a postcard — a small act that means the world to someone who is waiting for justice.
Matthew Ryan Rademacher
Case ID: 118443
Ionia County Correctional Center
133 E. Adams St., Ionia, MI 48846
Plain white stamped postcards only (max ~3.25 × 5.5 in). Include your full name on the return address.
To deposit commissary funds: accesscorrections.com — Michigan › Ionia County Jail, Case ID 118443
The truth is on Matthew's side.
We are not asking you to take our word for it. We are asking you to look at the evidence, read the timeline, and decide for yourself. Then help us make sure the right people hear it.