He Tried to Kill His Ex-Wife in a Restaurant: Matthew Exton Trial Highlights

Matthew Exton, 43, is a former Ohio and Michigan lawyer and ex–Kalkaska County assistant prosecutor. On April 11, 2025, during opening night at Sabira restaurant in downtown Toledo, he spotted his ex-wife, Kayda Valone, eating with her parents. He had been drinking next door at Souk. He went into Sabira, sent a drink to their table, spit toward them, left, then came back with a loaded Colt .45. He walked up to her, pointed the gun at her face, and pulled the trigger. The safety was still on. As he tried to switch it off, waiter Tracy Cole Jr. and other patrons tackled him. The gun had one round in the chamber and seven in the magazine. No one was shot. Exton was charged with attempted murder and felonious assault. He tried an insanity defense; the court would not allow it. At trial he testified he was angry about the divorce and said he did not try to hurt her. Prosecutors called it an attempted “public execution.” On September 4–5, 2026, a Lucas County jury convicted him of attempted murder, two counts of felonious assault, and the firearm specifications. He was acquitted of assaulting her father. The judge had him removed from court for disrupting closings; he heard the verdict from a holding cell. His Ohio law license was already suspended. Sentencing is September 21, 2026. He faces up to 25 years. ⚖️ Disclaimer: This content is presented for educational and informational purposes. It relies on publicly available documents, court filings, and verified sources. All individuals are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. The only Grizzly link you need: https://grizzlytruecrime.com 🐻 Mod Coffees: https://buymeacoffee.com/grizzlytruec... ☕ Gisela Coffees: https://buymeacoffee.com/truecrimegisela 😻 Grizzly-Cat⁩ coffees here: https://buymeacoffee.com/grizzlycat 🔞 Content Note: This channel covers real criminal cases using public records and verified sources. Content is intended for adult audiences and may involve sensitive or emotional topics. The goal is education, accountability, and awareness — not shock, harassment, or speculation. ✨ Fair Use Disclaimer: This video may contain copyrighted material used for purposes of criticism, comment, news reporting, education, scholarship, or research, consistent with Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act. #matthewexton #trial #verdict #sentencing #lawtube #truecrimeanalysis #courtdocuments #criminaljustice #grizzlytruecrime