The Short Life of Viktor Matthey

James Broscious, one of three lawyers representing the Mattheys, said the children's statements referred to in the prosecution's brief "are very confusing and, at times, internally inconsistent." He said the prosecutors have taken "snippets" of the children's statements and put them together to paint an unfair picture of the Mattheys.

Broscious said the prosecutor is selectively putting out information to make his clients look bad to the public.

"They are not monsters," he said. "Are they strict disciplinarians? Yes, they are. Do they believe in raising kids in a fashion that could be deemed old-fashioned? Yes."

In an e-mail last week, Bob Matthey called the basis for the charges lodged against him and his wife "unfounded rumors that were solely created to smear the truth."

Pastor Szierer said he, too, is troubled by the reports of how the children were questioned, saying detectives played on the family's strong religious convictions to get information from them.

He said he got the impression the State Police were looking for some kind of link between the church's teachings and the injuries Viktor presented when he arrived at the emergency room.

"I am teaching discipline, I do teach that," Szierer said. "Never have I taught beating, never. To me, I think we need to have authority, but based in love, not in anger, not in hostility. That's when beatings and all this takes place, and that's abuse and I don't agree with that. We as a church do not teach beatings or anything like that. Yes, discipline, hold you accountable."

Szierer said that what he has read in news accounts of Viktor's death does not square with what he knows about the family.

"Knowing the parents, knowing the family, I don't see it," he said. "But, hey, do I know everything? I just see a side of them that doesn't exhibit that. But nevertheless, they are good people, faithful people."

Szierer said the Mattheys, like other church members, would occasionally come forward during the Sunday services for special prayers by the minister "if there were difficulties, colds, kids not listening at home, things like that."

But they did not bring Viktor to their minister to be prayed over for refusing to eat or for injuring himself.

"No, nothing like that took place," Szierer said.

Szierer said he and the rest of the church are standing by the Mattheys, "but the most important thing in all of this is, let truth be revealed."

The Mattheys were indicted March 28, 2001, on charges of aggravated manslaughter, manslaughter, four counts of endangering the welfare of a child and one count of tampering with witnesses.

The Mattheys lost custody of their six other sons at the time of their arrest a year ago. Their four biological sons now live with Szierer. The twins are with a foster family in Hunterdon County. A separate legal fight for the return of the children is being waged in Family Court.

Viktor's remains were cremated in November 2000. Bob Matthey said last week that DYFS and the law guardian who represents Viktor's twin brothers would not allow the twins to attend a memorial service last May.

"For that reason, we have delayed the final disposition of his remains until such time as his entire family can honor his memory," Matthey said in an e-mail.

Bob and Brenda Matthey remain free on $30,000 bail each. No trial date has been set. They are due to appear in court Tuesday for a pretrial hearing.