Emily Rogers’ ex-boyfriend Nicholas Matzen attacked her while she was pregnant before ‘killing her,’ family claims

THE man accused of killing his ex-girlfriend and hiding her corpse in a rug attacked her while she was pregnant in 2020, her dad claims.

Nicholas Matzen allegedly “lost it” when his ex-girlfriend Emily Rogers said she was leaving him and strangled her, according to court documents filed on Wednesday.

Emily Rogers, 23, was found dead after going missing in AprilFacebook

Rogers, mother to a 16-month old, was found dead on May 5Terry Rogers

Nicholas Matzen has been charged in connection to the death of Emily RogersMilwaukee County Sheriff

Emily’s dad Terry Rogers told The Sun that Matzen was “his number one suspect” after his 23-year-old daughter’s body was found in a park outside of Milwaukee.

“I know it in my gut,” Terry said. “She always said everything was going good [when she talked about Matzen]. She didn’t tell me what was going on. I don’t know what led up to this.”

The grieving dad said his granddaughter, who just turned 16 months, his wife, and family are leaning on each other as they make funeral plans back home in Texas.

“I can take solace knowing he’s been charged. Now we’re waiting for justice for Emily and hopefully, he’ll never see the light of day as a free man.” 

He believes Emily was trapped in a cycle of domestic abuse going back to 2020 and doesn’t want her to die in vain.

He has a message for anyone who feels trapped in an abusive relationship: “Get out.”

 “An abuser will always try to isolate you and make you feel like everything is your fault and no one loves you. It’s not true,” Terry said.

“You have family and friends that love you and are willing to help. I want anyone who is going through domestic violence to seek help and get out. The abuser won’t change.”

Matzen was charged in June 2020 with arson on property other than a building and disorderly conduct.

Both charges had domestic abuse assessment modifiers, which means the acts were directed at a person or people living in the house.

All the charges were dismissed with prejudice in 2021. It’s unknown if Emily was involved in that case or why the charges were dismissed.

Matzen was just released from jail on a pending-but-separate charge of hit and run.

In 2010, he pleaded guilty to felony possession of a firearm and first-degree recklessly endangering safety, and in 2007, he pleaded guilty to a drug charge.

MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE

Emily was last seen in April before she was found dead in St Francis, Wisconsin on May 5, the Milwaukee Police Department said. Her body was found in a wooded area near an industrial park.

She had last been seen in the 2500 block of West Becher Street on April 26 at approximately 4.30 pm.

Her friend told police that the woman’s boyfriend was also last seen at the nearby Burnham Park, FOX6 reported.

But a medical examiner later determined that Emily was last seen alive by her boyfriend on April 27.

Court documents also reveal that Emily sent text messages to a friend on the morning of April 27.

Dr. Doug Kelly determined Emily’s cause of death was Asphyxia. Her death has been ruled a homicide.

Matzen is charged with first-degree reckless homicide and hiding a corpse.

If convicted, he could face up to 72.5 years behind bars, court documents state.

His bond has been set at $500,000.

He is due back in court on May 19.