Matthew David Hughes Guilty of Stalking Eminem, Faces Sentencing

CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Matthew David Hughes was found guilty of first-degree home invasion and aggravated stalking of rapper Eminem on Wednesday. The verdict came after a court hearing where Eminem, whose real name is Marshall Mathers, testified against Hughes.

Hughes was arrested in August 2024 after he was seen at Eminem’s home in Clinton Township, a suburb of Detroit. He has been jailed since his arrest, unable to meet bail conditions. The jury reached a decision quickly, finding Hughes guilty of both charges.

The 32-year-old had previously been charged with a similar offense in 2020, when he entered Eminem’s home while the rapper was present. Eminem testified that he woke up to find Hughes standing behind him, and a police report indicated that Hughes had told Eminem he was there to kill him.

In September 2021, Hughes received a five-year probation sentence after a plea deal for the 2020 incident. However, he violated probation with an unrelated assault and was sent to prison. He was released on parole in May 2024.

This is not Hughes’ first encounter with Eminem’s properties; in 2019, he had also broken into one of Eminem’s prior homes in Rochester Hills. At that time, Hughes spoke with the new owner, claiming he was looking for his “brother Marshall,” before breaking into a guest house. He received a 90-day sentence for that crime.

The case echoed themes from Eminem’s popular song “Stan,” which explores the impact of obsessive fandom. Hughes will be sentenced on June 17, 2025, and faces a significant prison term. In a separate ongoing case, 48-year-old Jimmy Wayne Carwyle has been charged with stalking Jennifer Aniston following a similar intrusion incident.