Trial begins for former paramedic accused in 2021 murder of wife, father-in-law

CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Jurors heard opposing narratives Wednesday as the trial began for the former Nashville paramedic charged with first-degree murder in the 2021 death of his wife and father-in-law.

Matthew David Konen, 36, was indicted by a Montgomery County grand jury in May 2021 on two counts of first-degree murder.

On the evening of Jan. 20, 2021, the shooting was reported near Westwood Drive in Sango, according to previous reports. Konen’s wife, 30-year-old Rachel Konen, was shot and her father, 62-year-old David Rodgers, was beaten to death. After the shooting, the Nashville Fire Department reassigned Konen, and he later resigned from his position as a paramedic, according to previous reports.

Konen received a “nolle prosequi” dismissal on the charges in October 2023, according to court records. But he was arrested again on the two counts of first-degree murder on May 14, 2025, following another true bill indictment by a grand jury.

Konen has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Prosecutors outline motive, timeline in Konen case

District Attorney General Robert Nash told jurors Konen and Rachel were going through a divorce in the months before her death “set to be final Feb. 14, 2021.” Nash said that in June 2020, Rachel found out Konen “had an affair with a co-worker.” He said they tried marriage counseling and when that did not work, she filed for divorce in October 2020. Nash said Rachel wanted Konen out of the house and that he continued having the affair.

Nash argued this caused Konen financial stress. He said “almost half of his income” would go to Rachel and their children after the divorce, adding it would have been about $1,700 a month in child support as well as $500 a month in alimony.

Nash described Rodgers as a devoted father and grandfather. He said at approximately 6:42 p.m. on Jan. 20, 2021, Konen called 911 claiming Rodgers had killed Rachel and turned the gun on him. Nash said Konen’s statement was he got the gun away, “beat Mr. Rodgers,” called 911, retrieved his medic bag to treat his wife, and then went back into the dining room to “kick and stomp Mr. Rodgers.”

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When first responders arrived, Nash said, Rachel was found with a single gunshot wound “through her heart” and Rodgers had “severe facial trauma.” Nash said there were no issues between Rodgers and his daughter, and that Rodgers had no motive. He added that “minutes before these two deaths” Rachel was packing up to go on a trip while Rodgers was playing with his grandchildren.

Nash then pointed to “contradictory” statements given to police, like Konen saying he was not being kicked out. Nash also said Rachel had a $700,000 life insurance policy. “Mr. Konen is the beneficiary,” he said. “He gets his kids, now he has money and he’s starting a new life with the girl he’s been carrying on with for over a year.”

Defense says father-in-law shot Rachel, not Konen

Defense attorney Kyle Mothershead told jurors Konen’s father-in-law, Rodgers, shot Rachel. Mothershead said Konen does not know why and would have never expected it. “Mr. Konen has no way of knowing if Rodgers did it intentionally or accidentally,” he said.

Mothershead said that when Konen and Rachel – who was a certified nurse at the time – started a family, she stopped working to care for and homeschool the kids. He added Konen sometimes worked two jobs to provide for the family. Mothershead said in 2020, Konen had an affair and they were falling in love. He said Konen confessed to Rachel in June 2020 and they attempted to reconcile for a few months, but had “just grown apart.”

Mothershead said the Konens planned to get divorced but still be “living in the same house for the time being,” with Konen in the basement. He told jurors they sold their residence and closed on a new home together on Westwood Drive in October 2020. Mothershead added that a few days later, they signed a divorce agreement and decided Rachel would have primary custody of the children while trying to navigate co-parenting. “Even after filing for divorce, they continued living in the same home,” he said, adding they were friends and that Rachel eventually started seeing someone else too.

Mothershead told jurors Rodgers had a “history of depression” and “had been suicidal in the past.” He added Rodgers was also diagnosed with “anxiety, insomnia and chronic pain.” He said the gun used in the shooting was owned by Rodgers, was purchased in 2019, and that it was “the first gun he had ever owned.”

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Mothershead said Rodgers shot Rachel, tried to shoot Konen when the gun misfired, and then Konen “hit Rodgers with that gun again and again until Rodgers stayed down.” He said after Konen checked on Rachel and called 911, Rodgers was sitting back up and Konen “determined Rodgers was still a threat.” Then Konen “kicked Rodgers again and again.”

EMS responders describe injuries, bloody scene

Douglas Hayes, formerly a paramedic with Montgomery County EMS, said he was the first paramedic on the scene that night at about 6:48 p.m. When he entered the residence, Hayes testified, he saw Rachel on the floor in the hallway. He said when he arrived, it appeared the patient had been getting “chest compressions” from Konen.

Hayes attempted to help her, then checked her pulse, and she was pronounced dead at about 6:54 p.m. He then joined his EMT partner in assessing Rodgers. Hayes said there was a “large amount of traumatic injuries to his face and upper airway.” He told jurors Rodgers was conscious and thrashing around, but unable to speak or follow direct commands.

“The major life threat to Mr. Rodgers was his airway,” Hayes said, adding there was what he believed to be fractured teeth and potentially other foreign objects in Rodgers’ airway. He told jurors they attempted to use the bag valve mask, but “found it extremely difficult given the facial trauma and his movement.”

Alexandra Johnson, an advanced EMT with Montgomery County EMS, offered additional medical support on the scene along with two other paramedics and another EMT. Johnson testified that when she entered the home, she first saw Rachel’s body. “I remember the baby sitting between her legs and a cellphone right next to her,” she said. 

Johnson described the scene to jurors as “one of the top bloodiest calls” she had ever worked. She said she observed a “bullet-like object” near Rodgers’ body as he was being treated in the home, but she was unsure if it was a bullet or a casing.

Johnson said when she informed Konen of the deaths, he seemed “calm.” She noted that traumatic events can affect people differently. Johnson also observed “some blood on his cheek.” When she asked if he was injured, she told jurors he wiped it away and said, “That’s not mine.”

Court recessed Wednesday evening and will resume Thursday at 8:30 a.m. at the Montgomery County Courts Center.

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