A 70-year-old retired fire chief who supervised junior firefighters has been caught with 125,000 child sex abuse files and children’s underwear hidden in his basement—and he confessed to collecting them for 30 years while living next to a playground.
At a Glance
- Martin Matson, former chief of the defunct Greenfields Volunteer Fire Company in New Jersey, was arrested for possessing a massive collection of child sexual abuse materials
- Police discovered over 125,000 files of child pornography, printed images, and children’s underwear in his basement
- Matson admitted to collecting these materials over the past 30 years
- The investigation began after authorities received a cyber tip about suspicious uploads from his West Deptford home
- Neighbors are horrified by the revelation, especially since Matson’s house backs up to a playground
Three Decades of Depravity Behind a Badge of Public Trust
Just when you think you’ve heard it all, along comes a story that makes your skin crawl. Martin Matson, a 70-year-old retired fire chief from New Jersey—someone the community trusted to protect them and even supervise junior firefighters—has been arrested for amassing what can only be described as a museum of depravity. This isn’t just another crime; it’s a betrayal of public trust that spanned three decades while this man wore the uniform of a first responder and community leader.
The investigation into Matson began in December 2024 after authorities received a cyber tip about suspicious uploads coming from his West Deptford home. When police executed a search warrant, what they found was beyond disturbing—over 125,000 files of child pornography stored on electronic devices. But the horror show didn’t end there. They also discovered printed images and, in perhaps the most skin-crawling detail of all, a collection of children’s underwear stashed in his basement.
A Community Betrayed
Matson wasn’t just any resident of West Deptford. He was the chief of the now-defunct Greenfields Volunteer Fire Company, a position that put him in direct contact with children through his supervision of the junior firefighters program. The revelation has sent shockwaves through the community, where residents are now questioning everything they thought they knew about their neighbor and former public servant.
“We are absolutely shocked. You think you know your neighbors, and I guess you don’t.” one resident told the news outlet.
The betrayal cuts even deeper when you consider the location of Matson’s home—it backs right up to a playground frequented by neighborhood children. This proximity has left parents in the area feeling violated and concerned about what might have happened over the years. Did this man, who has now admitted to collecting child exploitation materials for 30 years, use his position and location to prey on the very community he was supposed to protect?
The Playground Next Door
The most disturbing aspect of this case might be the playground that sits behind Matson’s house. For three decades, this man collected materials exploiting children while living within eyeshot of where actual children played. One neighbor voiced the fear that’s now gripping the community: “That’s creepy. What happened? What was he doing in that house? Was he watching the kids? Was he taking pictures of all the kids that are at the playground? That’s a big one.”
These questions aren’t just idle curiosity—they represent the genuine fear of parents who now have to wonder if their children were ever in this man’s viewfinder. Matson is scheduled to appear in court on May 22, but the damage to community trust has already been done. This case serves as yet another reminder that predators don’t always look like monsters. Sometimes they wear uniforms, lead community organizations, and live right next door.
