Matthew Daly

Matt during his arrest and interview

**Matthew Allen "Matt" Daly** is a suspected predator caught in the **Monroe, Michigan** sting on Takedown with Chris Hansen. He is infamous for showing up to the sting house in a golf cart and house slippers, as well as his neurotic and obnoxious attitude after being arrested and confronted by Chris Hansen.

## Sting

The Monroe County Michigan Sheriff's Office's Violent Internet Predator and Exploitation Response (V.I.P.E.R. for short) team was conducting a sting to expose child predators living within Monroe County. Through Grindr, Matt initiated contact with a decoy posing as a fourteen-year-old boy named "Travis". Although his chat was brief, it was graphic, with Matthew saying he wanted to suck the decoy's neck, as well as receive a back rub and oral sex from him. He referred to the decoy as "[his] baby", as well as saying he wanted "that ass". What Perverted Justice would call a "fast mover", Matt became impatient and demanded the decoy's address five times, eventually receiving it once the sting house was fully set up.

Matt lived so close and was so relaxed about the situation that he rolled up to the sting house in his custom neon green golf cart, wearing his cap, sunglasses, shorts and house slippers. He didn't even try sneaking inside, instead taking a moment to speak to some nearby neighbours of his. He then grabbed his cellphone and backpack before approaching the house, where he was greeted by the on site decoy. The decoy immediately left the room, claiming that he had to grab his charger from the other room. After Matt took a seat in one of the armchairs, Chris Hansen walked out and instructed Matt to sit on the stool at the kitchen island. Matt refused, claiming he knew who Chris was and that he "cannot afford to do this right now." Matt attempted to leave the sting house after inquiring if the police were already outside, promptly being tackled to the ground and handcuffed by V.I.P.E.R. They requested the passcode to his cellphone, which Matt refused, claiming he needed his lawyer for that.

As Chris tried to question Matt while he was still on the ground using the graphic lines from his chat log, the police searched him. They eventually stood him up, with Matt wanting to know if he was being detained. The V.I.P.E.R. units explained he was under arrest, not detained, with Matt asking not to be filmed. When Chris told Matt that he didn't have a choice, Matt asserted that he did, not understanding he gave up his taping rights by committing a felony. Matt trying to argue his way out of being filmed resulted in Chris sarcastically asking if he was a lawyer, which Matt denied. He acknowledged Chris was "an intelligent man", but he didn't want to talk or be taped. Matt then asserted that he asked the decoy if he was the police department and said he told the decoy that he just wanted to hang out, acknowledging that it was just a website where people meet, not coming for anything illegal. He then denied ever previously chatting with underage teens online. When Chris attempted to ask Matt more questions, he interrupted by telling Chris he had seen his shows before.

Although he had previously made it clear he had no interest in talking, Matt quickly contradicted himself by going on a ramble about how he wasn't there for sex despite what the chat log said, once again saying he didn't want to be filmed. He reiterated his "hang out" excuse, saying that he had work in the morning and was planning on going to bed after hanging out and leaving the sting house for an hour or so. He refused to reveal where he worked, however, fearing he would get fired. He then tried to get pity points, saying that he had nothing except his job and all his relatives (except his mother who he took care of the best he could) were dead. He further went on saying that if he lost his job he would lose everything because he wouldn't be able to take care of his dog or keep his house. Chris said he understood, but it still didn't excuse meeting a child online for sex, as well as acknowledging in a post-production voice over that Matt only had his own actions to blame on his mother and dog fending for themselves.

Matt went on, agreeing with Chris before immediately going on another ramble about how he didn't know what was even going on, being freaked out by the whole situation. Chris tried to explain that Matt had been caught trying to have sex with a fourteen-year-old boy on an app that Matt kept referring to as "a legal app", then claiming that he didn't see the boy's age on the profile (despite admitting to knowing he was fourteen moments earlier). Chris made it clear how many times he had heard that, with Matt going on to compliment Chris' work and podcast appearances, but still apparently not knowing what was going on. He then asked one of the units to readjust his glasses, which he mistook for Matt asking him to remove his sunglasses. After the misunderstanding, the officer put Matt's sunglasses back on his face.

Matt went on to claim he had done nothing wrong, simply attempting to meet someone through the legal app without coming over specifically for sex. He went on to try and refute the evidence by claiming that they couldn't prove the texts were from him, which Chris very promptly brushed off as nonsense, given they had all the proof they needed that the texts came from Matt's profile and cellphone. Chris then ridiculed Matt for walking in like he owned the place while "reeking of weed", which Matt tried to brush off by stating marijuana was legal in this county, apparently not understanding Chris' implication that someone under the influence could be more dangerous than someone who isn't. Matt asked the Sheriff one last time not to be filmed before reiterating he only came to hang out. After further playing the pity party by saying he nothing except his little bag (which had two beers and marijuana in it that he denied intending to share with a minor), his cellphone, his job (which he would be in trouble for calling in saying he couldn't come in after being arrested for a sex crime) and his house, he tried a new excuse, claiming that he thought the decoy was joking because people lie about their ages all the time, indirectly admitting that previous young people he had spoken to and possibly met up with turned out to be anywhere from twenty-one to twenty-five-years-old. Chris once again refuted Matt's lies and excuses, reiterating the decoy clearly told him that he was fourteen, as well as once again acknowledging Matt's interest in "a good BJ".

Matt made one last attempt to defend himself by claiming someone he previously met as in their fifties despite claiming they were in their twenties. Due to the sudden arrival of another suspect, Matt was promptly escorted out of the back door and taken to the police station.

## Interrogation

In the interrogation room, Matt retained his neurotic and circle-talking attitude, presumably to prolong his punishment for as long as possible. He initially tried to speak to the detective while also refusing to sign away his right to remain silent, going on about how Chris Hansen was unable to prove that the beer and drugs weren't just for him, as well as claiming all he knew was that he entered the house and wound up on the floor. The detective constantly tried to remind Matt that they couldn't talk unless Matt either requested a lawyer or signed away his rights. Even though Matt seemed to have a basic understanding that it would be in his best interest to remain silent and wait for a lawyer, he ultimately decided to relent and waived his right to remain silent, but still bemoaned how the detective should give him advice and that he didn't want to be filmed. When the detective somehow managed to explain to Matt that he was only being filmed for safety and evidential purposes (not Chris Hansen sting purposes), Matt calmed down a little, but still spoke in fast-paced circles, claiming he told his mother he was only going to be gone for an hour.

Matt went on to explain that he had been told about Grindr by other people, who sold it to him as an app to meet people. Matt went on to defend himself with his excuse that he was just there to hang out, not even remembering how long he was speaking to "Travis" before showing up to the sting house. He claimed he couldn't show the detective any evidence of his texts because his messages were erased immediately, before going on to say that he deletes accounts immediately after he's done using them as to not be associated with the person or situation anymore. Although this admission had disturbing undertones, he claimed he did it with everyone, deleting texts from his own mother and Facebook friends due to the build-up of storage on his phone. He continued to use his "legal app" excuse, claiming he was told one thing on the app and another thing in text, and that the decoy was playing with his head. The detective read from Matt's chat log, with Matt calling it "regular stuff". When confronted with the direct admission the decoy made to being underage, Matt reiterated that he didn't say anything about being attracted to children and that he just wanted to hang out after finding out the age of the decoy, failing to understand that he still decided to show up even after finding out the age of the decoy, regardless of the order of the chat log's sexual remarks.

Matt went on to defend himself, claiming that Chris Hansen knew nothing about him and was making assumptions based on his chat. The detective inquired as to whether Matt had intended on doing anything violent like assaulting or abducting the decoy, which Matt vehemently denied, as well as once again denying bringing alcohol and drugs for the child, claiming it was only for him. He continued to talk in circles once again, using his waking up early for work excuse, the excuse that the decoy was in close proximity, and the app was for legal adults only, having no interest in children because he had children from a previous relationship himself. He became slightly aggressive when claiming that the on site decoy was at least in his thirties, which he claimed is what he was expecting to see after talking to a minor.

Matt called himself "a normal guy", but immediately pleaded his Fifth Amendment Right to not answer a question in regards as to why he asked if the person he was speaking to was a cop. The detective once again told Matt that they didn't *have* to talk, but Matt made it clear he didn't mind continuing to speak to the detective. Matt went on to explain that people on Grindr had previously asked him if *he* was a cop, with the detective pointing out that Matt earlier claimed today was his first time using the app. Although Matt basically hanged himself, he tried to defend himself by saying that three men just on that day had asked him if he was a cop, not understanding that the claim made no sense. Matt then tried to use the decoy's bad grammar ("i fifteen") as if the decoy was referring to an address ("in fifteen"), which the detective immediately disputed by pointing out Matt had previously claimed he didn't remember that part of the conversation at all.

Matt continued to talk in circles, using the same excuses he already used several times beforehand. He eventually asked if he could contact his mother to let her know he had been arrested, being told he could do so when he was taken to jail. He then requested the detective not to tell her anything other than Matt was "in trouble" and to go to his house to look after the dog. Still not fully understanding how the law works, Matt once again claimed he did nothing wrong and asked if he was going to be released after seeing the judge, which the detective told him he didn't know, with said decision being up to the judge.

Matt admitted to being in trouble before, such as selling marijuana and being in a crack house, but never for a sex crime. He said he was a tax-paying citizen who did nothing wrong, as well once again claiming he had no intent to engage in sex with a minor. He gave his work address, claiming that he was worried about being fired because someone had been fired after being arrested months ago and he promised his employers that he wasn't like that. He then asked the detective to call his mother to ask her to call his work and tell them he wasn't feeling well, which the detective obliged to.

After being left alone for a moment, Matt got up and knocked on the interrogation room door, asking "excuse me?" Eventually, the detective returned, with Matt asking the detective if he could call the number he gave for his mother immediately to make sure it was the right one. Matt's request was denied, with him subsequently being put in cuffs and taken to jail.

## Aftermath

Matt was charged with three felonies: Child Abusive Commercial Activity, Using a Computer to Commit a Crime, and Accosting a Child for Immoral Purposes. Following Matt's bust, Jerry Hetherington, another suspect caught moments after Matt left the sting house, claimed that he knew of Matt and as well as others in the neighbourhood as people who engaged in predatory behaviour, but denied ever directly engaging with Matt beyond a passing greeting when walking around the neighbourhood. Following their arrests, however, the two became cellmates, although it is unknown if they continually interacted during their incarceration.

## Trivia

* A year prior to the sting, Matt had a YouTube channel known as endtimewatchmen8701, where he is known to have hosted livestreams predicting the end of the world. He apparently had some level of support on the platform, thanking his viewers for watching and liking his videos. His channel was deleted after the sting, either by YouTube or by Matt himself.
* Of the Takedown predators, Matt's uncut police interrogation is one of only two to be fully accessible online, alongside the interrogation of his stingmate, Jerry Hetherington.