Homeless suspect in fatal MARTA stabbing of great-grandmother could face death penalty as hit with federal charge
A homeless man has been charged with the fatal stabbing of a great-grandmother on a MARTA train in Atlanta. John Elijah Matthews, 25, faces a federal charge that could lead to the death penalty after allegedly attacking 66-year-old Margaret Swan. The incident has raised concerns about safety on public transportation and the impact of violence on the community.
- ▪John Elijah Matthews is accused of stabbing Margaret Swan to death during a random attack on a MARTA train.
- ▪He faces a federal charge of committing an act of violence causing death on a mass transportation system.
- ▪The attack left Swan dead in a pool of blood, and Matthews was arrested on the train platform still holding the knife.
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US News Homeless suspect in fatal MARTA stabbing of great-grandmother could face death penalty as hit with federal charge By Anna Young Published June 3, 2026, 9:38 a.m. ET See more of our coverage in your search results. Add The New York Post on Google The homeless lunatic accused of viciously stabbing great-grandmother Margaret Swan to death during a random attack on an Atlanta train could face the death penalty after being hit with a new federal charge. John Elijah Matthews, 25, is now facing one federal count of committing an act of violence causing death on a mass transportation system after allegedly slashing the 66-year-old victim’s throat and then stabbing her nearly two dozen times on the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority Saturday morning.
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