Nationality American 1979–1980 Valladolid Name Matthew White Height 2.08 m | Listed height 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 1980–1981 RC Nautico Tenerife Role Basketball player Position Center | |
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Born August 15, 1957
New York City, New York ( 1957-08-15 ) High school Choate (Wallingford, Connecticut) NBA draft 1979 / Round: 5 / Pick: 100th overall Died February 11, 2013, Nether Providence Township, Pennsylvania, United States College Penn Quakers men's basketball | ||
Matthew Preston White "Matt" Wangler (August 15, 1957 – February 11, 2013) was an American basketball player for the University of Pennsylvania, and was later drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers. He helped lead the Pennsylvania basketball team into the final four of the 1979 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. He played professionally in the Liga ACB for Valladolid Minon/Grupo Libro Valladolid, RC Nautico Tenerife, Cacaolat Granollers, Puleva Baloncesto Granada and Valvi Girona.
Death
White was killed by his wife Maria Reyes Garcia-Pellon, after she allegedly observed him watching child pornography. Police reported only finding pictures of naked young women, not children. She stabbed him several times in the throat. In court proceedings, a plea of temporary insanity was entered. His wife was suffering from schizophrenia at the time and had been off her medication. Matthew had attempted to have her admitted to a psychiatric care center the day before his death, but was only able to make an appointment for the following day. In December 2014 a court dropped the murder charges during a bench trial, and she was subsequently found guilty but mentally ill of voluntary manslaughter.