A Jackson County Circuit Court judge denied bail Wednesday for a Phoenix man accused of murdering his mother earlier this month after hearing brief testimony from a detective on the case. 

Judge Laura Cromwell made a “preliminary finding” that Matthew Brian Winder, 28, allegedly killed Cheryl Sellers, 59, at a townhome in the 600 block of North Main Street, Phoenix, on May 12, 2023. 

“The proof is evident, and the presumption is strong that you are guilty of this crime,” Cromwell told Winder, who appeared in court via video from the Jackson County Jail. “However, I just want to make it really, ultimately clear that the case obviously has to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt at a far higher burden than what I am finding right now.”

Winder was indicted and pleaded not guilty to a single charge of second-degree murder May 15. He was told by another judge at that time that there was not a court-appointed attorney available to represent him.

The same held true Wednesday, and Winder said he did not wish to go forward with a bail hearing after being warned by Cromwell there could be “pitfalls” if he spoke on his own behalf. 

Before making a decision about bail, Cromwell heard from Oregon State Police Det. Cory Sweet, who was sworn in as a witness by the prosecution team to lay out the facts of the case. Cromwell asked Winder not to say anything during Sweet’s testimony, and he complied, although the defendant appeared to wipe tears away from his eyes at one point. 

Sweet said police first got a call about the case at 5:29 p.m. on May 12 by Jessica Poore, Winder’s spouse, who asked police to come to the Main Street townhome, where Sellers was killed.

Just after 6:30 p.m., 911 received a phone call from Winder, who was not at the scene but told the dispatcher he “just killed his mother,” Sweet said. Winder later returned to the scene and was arrested.

Detectives and medical examiners responded to the scene, who identified a female victim identified as Cheryl Sellers.

“It appeared that she had died from homicidal wounds,” Sweet testified. “That was later confirmed during autopsy.”

The detective told Cromwell that Winder initially agreed to a police interview but quickly requested counsel. 

Sweet also told Cromwell that what investigators found at the scene of the crime matched what Winder told them about his mother.

“Everything, so far, has corroborated,” Sweet said. 

Deputy district attorneys Michael Cohen and Samantha Olson did not bring any other witnesses to court Wednesday.

Cromwell set Winder’s next court appearance for 9 a.m. June 26.