Ex-wife: Mathewson ‘very unstable, abusive’

William Abraham Kapono Mathewson, the 36-year-old man who allegedly stabbed Dr. Francois Claassens in the neck with a fishing spear, was described by his then-wife in 2012 as “very unstable and abusive,” according to court documents.

In a handwritten statement on Sept. 24, 2012, that was submitted to the Superior Court, Samaa Mathewson also disclosed that her husband “really changed” after he started taking personality altering medicines.

Samaa made the statement in support of her request for the Superior Court to issue a temporary restraining order against Mathewson.

“He is very unstable and I am scared of what he will do,” she said.

At one point, she said, Mathewson broke up with her but came back drunk and repeatedly kicked the door of their house and broke their window.

“I don’t know him anymore and I’m very worried for the well-being and safety of my children and myself,” she said.

The two have three minor children.

She said Mathewson likes to drink a lot and would become verbally abusive, calling her a whore and lots of profanities. She said he also becomes physically violent when drunk.

She recalled an incident while they were drinking at their house with some friends. When everybody had gone, he started acting strange and rolled around in the dirt and on the street. When she asked him what was wrong, he replied that he broke his hip and then started walking to the hospital. When Mathewson returned the following morning, she tried to talk to him, but he refused to listen.

She said her ex-husband told her he doesn’t love her anymore and does not care about her.

“I asked him to leave because I can’t take it anymore. He refused and told me to get a restraining order if I want him to leave,” she said.

Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho approved the wife’s request for TRO on Sept. 24, 2012, and ordered Mathewson to appear in court to explain why an order of protection should not be issued against him.

At the Sept. 26, 2012, Camacho issued an order of protection and gave Mathewson one week to remove his personal belongings from their family house in Liyo, Rota.

The order of protection was for a period of one year or until Sept. 25, 2013, unless extended or modified, according to court records.

On Oct. 7, 2013, Samaa filed for divorce. The case is pending in court.

Sources said Samaa now lives in Guam.

At his bail hearing on Monday, Mathewson said he has three children but is a single parent. He said all his family members are in Hawaii.

Police said Mathewson, a farmer/fisherman, stabbed Dr. Claassens in the neck with a fishing spear and whacked his head with a chain and a big black pot. The attack happened behind the doctor’s house in Teneto Village on Rota on Saturday morning.

Police said the suspect smelled of alcohol when they arrested him. Mathewson allegedly told officers that he wanted to watch the doctor die and that’s what he gets for destroying his family.

Dr. Claassens is the only physician assigned at the Rota Health Center. According to his wife, he is showing signs of progress in a hospital in Guam.

When the incident happened his wife had just arrived in Guam from a trip to Honolulu. Their two children were in their house on Rota when the attack occurred.

Department of Public Safety acting spokesman Jason Tarkong confirmed Wednesday that Dr. Claassens was initially admitted to the Guam Naval Hospital, but was transferred to the Guam Memorial Hospital because of the unavailability of a vascular surgeon.

Tarkong said a vascular surgeon from Guam Memorial Hospital removed the remaining portion of the fishing rod that was still lodged in the victim’s head.

“The victim remains in serious condition which has not changed since being admitted at the Guam Memorial Hospital. Victim has not regained consciousness and remains on life support,” Tarkong said.