Some crimes just stick in the collective memory of a town. For Basking Ridge, New Jersey, that moment was January 1991. It wasn't just the fact of the murders, though they were brutal. It was the details. People still talk about the shotgun shells. Specifically, the ones with the words "Mom" and "Dad" written on them in marker.
Matthew Heikkila was 20 years old then. He lived with his parents, Richard and Dawn Heikkila, in a nice house on a quiet street. Richard was a big deal in the medical world—a prominent researcher focused on Parkinson’s disease. Dawn was a successful real estate agent. To the neighbors, they were the picture of suburban success. But inside that house, things were falling apart. Matthew, their adopted son, was increasingly at odds with them.
Then there was Linda Perez. She was Matthew’s girlfriend at the time, and her presence in this story is what turns a tragic domestic shooting into a weird, dark road trip saga. Honestly, the way their names are linked usually brings up questions about how much she knew and when she knew it.
What Really Happened with Matthew Heikkila
The murders happened on January 29, 1991. Matthew used a sawed-off shotgun. He didn't just fire it; he had planned it out to a degree that still creeps people out today. He actually labeled the shells. One said "Mom." Another said "Dad." It’s the kind of detail that feels like it belongs in a low-budget horror movie, but it was real life in Somerset County.
After he killed them, he didn't run away immediately. He stayed in the house. He even spent time with Linda Perez.
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The next day, Dawn didn't show up for work. Her coworkers weren't the type to just let it slide; they knew something was wrong. When police finally did a welfare check at the home on Lord Stirling Road, they found the bodies. Richard and Dawn had been shot at close range. Matthew was gone. He had taken his parents' credit cards and headed for Jamaica with Linda.
The Role of Linda Perez
This is where the narrative gets messy. Linda Perez was with Matthew during the aftermath. They flew to Jamaica together using his murdered parents' money. When they were eventually tracked down and brought back, the big question was whether Linda was an accomplice or a victim of circumstances.
She eventually testified against him.
During the trial, the defense tried to paint a picture of a young man who had been pushed to the brink, citing "adoption syndrome" and claiming he felt rejected by his parents. It didn't fly. The jury saw the labeled shells as proof of cold, calculated intent. Linda’s testimony helped seal the deal. She described his behavior after the killings—how they went to the mall, how they planned the trip. It didn't sound like a man in the middle of a mental health crisis; it sounded like someone who had just checked a chore off his list.
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The Trial and the Sentence
The trial was a media circus for New Jersey in 1993. You had a brilliant scientist and a beloved real estate agent dead, and their son sitting in the defendant's chair.
- The Prosecution's Angle: They focused on the "Mom" and "Dad" shells. It’s hard to argue lack of intent when you’ve literally put a name on the bullet.
- The Defense's Angle: They brought up Matthew's background, his struggles with being adopted, and his relationship with his parents. They wanted the jury to see him as a troubled kid who snapped.
- The Outcome: The jury wasn't having it. They convicted him on two counts of murder.
In February 1993, Matthew Heikkila was sentenced to two consecutive life terms. In New Jersey at that time, that meant he had to serve at least 60 years before he could even think about parole. He’s currently serving that time in the New Jersey state prison system.
Why People Still Search for This Case
It’s the psychological element. Why the labels? Why take your girlfriend to Jamaica on your dead parents' dime? Most people who look up Matthew Heikkila and Linda Perez are trying to find a motive that makes sense. But usually, in cases like this, "sense" is the one thing you won't find.
Linda Perez mostly dropped out of the public eye after the trial. She wasn't the one who pulled the trigger, but her name remains forever linked to one of the most chilling double homicides in New Jersey history.
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Actionable Takeaways from the Heikkila Case
If you are researching this case for a project or just out of a deep-dive interest in true crime, here are the core facts to keep straight:
- The Evidence was Physical: The "Mom/Dad" shotgun shells are the definitive piece of evidence that proved premeditation.
- The Timeline Matters: The 24 hours between the murders and the flight to Jamaica showed a complete lack of immediate remorse, which heavily influenced the jury.
- The Legal Precedent: The case is often cited in discussions regarding "adoption syndrome" as a defense, specifically how it often fails in the face of clear evidence of planning.
You can find the official court records through the Somerset County Superior Court archives if you're looking for the full trial transcripts. Most of the original 1991-1993 reporting is archived in the Courier News or The Star-Ledger.
The story of Matthew Heikkila and Linda Perez serves as a grim reminder that the most "perfect" suburban lives can sometimes hide the most violent realities. It wasn't about a robbery gone wrong or a random intruder. It was about what was happening inside the house.