Shivangi Sinha
In October 2017, Matthew Collins told his family he was heading out for a haircut, unaware that it would be the last time they’d see him. Not long after, he was reported missing by his girlfriend. A few days later, authorities discovered his car abandoned in Fort Myers, Florida. The vehicle was stained with blood, raising immediate alarm. As the investigation unfolded, police eventually located Matthew’s remains, confirming their worst fears. Investigation Discovery’s ‘Mean Girl Murders: Little Miss Murder’ delves into the details of the crime, revealing the disturbing chain of events and the identity of the person responsible.
Matthew Collins Went Out for a Haircut But Never Came Back
Matthew Eugene Collins was originally from Williamstown, New Jersey, where he spent his early years in a loving home. While not much is publicly known about his family, it’s clear he had a supportive upbringing. After completing high school, he relocated to Florida in search of new opportunities. He found steady work in construction and landscaping and built a circle of friends with whom he enjoyed partying and having fun. However, over time, things began to spiral. Matthew developed a drug dependency, which led him down a darker path. To maintain his lifestyle, he turned to theft and burglary. In 2014, his criminal activities caught up with him, and he was arrested on charges of burglary and trafficking in stolen property.
After spending nearly a year in jail, Matthew was released in 2016, and according to his family, he was deeply affected by his time behind bars. They believed he had turned over a new leaf and was genuinely committed to rebuilding his life. Around this time, he met Francesca through an online platform, and the two quickly grew close. By early 2017, they had started dating, and in just a few months, their relationship became serious enough that they decided to move in together. The couple settled in Lehigh Acres, Florida, where things seemed to be going well. On the evening of October 12, 2017, Matthew told Francesca he was heading out to get a haircut and took her 2015 red Chrysler 200. Later that night, he texted her saying he was stuck in Fort Myers. But after that message, all communication from him stopped.
Concerned and unable to reach him, she contacted the police the next day, October 13, and reported him missing. Following Francesca’s missing person report, authorities issued a BOLO (Be On the Lookout) for the red Chrysler 200 that Matthew had been driving. On October 17, 2017, the vehicle was discovered abandoned on a street in Fort Myers. What immediately raised alarm was the condition of the car, as there was a bullet hole in the windshield and it was heavily stained with blood. It wasn’t until October 28, in a remote, wooded area on the 5900 block of Sally Avenue North, that they found Matthew Collins’ remains buried in a shallow grave. An autopsy confirmed that he had died from a fatal gunshot wound.
Matthew Collins’ Killers Gave a Confession Without Much Probing
When Francesca first reported that Matthew Collins was missing, she informed the police about a strange text she had received from his phone. The message claimed, “This is Tiffany, he’s with me now.” When she asked to speak with him, another message followed, which said that he had been unfaithful and would not be returning. Despite this, Francesca remained uneasy and suspicious. Her concerns deepened when authorities contacted Tiffany, who confirmed that she had not seen Matthew that evening and had not sent any messages from his phone. Investigators then turned to Matthew’s phone records, which revealed that he had visited a convenience store in Fort Myers, Florida, around the time he disappeared.
The authorities reviewed surveillance footage from the convenience store and saw that Matthew had parked the car and exited alongside another man. Using cellphone data, investigators traced the signal to a nearby residence where Matthew’s phone had last pinged. It belonged to a man named Nathan Ortiz, who was not present at the time. However, officers noticed a shovel on the property with soil resembling that found in the abandoned vehicle. A search warrant was obtained, and forensic analysis confirmed the dirt was a match. Then, on October 28, Nathan voluntarily appeared at the police station accompanied by his girlfriend, Aria Armstead. She was a former teen pageant contestant once well-known across Florida.
The police questioned Aria first, and she admitted that Matthew had visited them on October 12 and that the three had gone out for a drive. According to her, he allegedly began using drugs during the ride and soon became aggressive. She alleged that he pulled out a gun and pointed it at her, but Nathan managed to knock it out of his hand, and it landed near her. Aria claimed she was pregnant at the time, and said she panicked and shot Matthew in self-defense. She confessed to trying to dispose of the body by first hiding it near Nathan’s parents’ house, then attempting to burn it, and ultimately burying it near their own home. She then led authorities to the location where the remains were discovered. Both Aria and Nathan Ortiz were taken into custody and charged in connection with the murder.
Aria Armstead is in Prison, While Nathan Ortiz is a Free Man Today
Prosecutors eventually uncovered that Aria Armstead had fabricated her claim about being pregnant. Additionally, they learned that Matthew Collins had a condition affecting his right hand, making it physically unlikely for him to have aimed a gun as Aria had described. As a result, the latter was charged with second-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence, while Nathan Ortiz faced charges of accessory after the fact and tampering as well.
Nathan was the first to accept a plea deal, agreeing to testify against Aria if needed and also revealing the location of the murder weapon. He was sentenced to 42 months in prison and was released in October 2022. Since then, he has kept a low profile. Aria later pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter, tampering with evidence, and abuse of a corpse. In 2018, she received a 40-year prison sentence. Now 27 years old, Aria is serving her term at the Lowell C.I. Annex in Ocala, Florida, and is expected to be released in November 2036.
