Ex-Wife of Cranston Councilman Facing Child Sex Assault and Drug Charges Says She Faces Homelessness

Ex-Wife of Cranston Councilman Facing Child Sex Assault and Drug Charges Says She Faces Homelessness

The ex-wife of former Cranston Councilman Matthew Reilly says she now is facing homelessness, along with their two daughters.

Reilly, who was the former Chair of the Cranston Republican Party, was arrested on drug charges in May of 2023 before being arrested on felony sexual assault and child molestation charges. 

He was released on bail on home confinement in October before being sent back to the Department of Corrections in December for violating bail. 

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Now, Lindsay Reilly, along with their two daughters, says she is being told to leave her former mother-in-law’s home, where she used to live with her ex-husband — and had been living recently with her daughters, as Reilly is being released on home confinement again as he awaits trial. 

“This is a dire situation. I’m in a bit of a panic mode,” Reilly told GoLocal on Friday, of having nowhere to live. 

She said she and her daughters had “lived like gypsies” the last time Reilly was out on home confinement, but this time, she said she has explored a number of options — including shelters — to no avail.

“His family does not help,” said Reilly. “It’s been hell on earth. I don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel.”

In May of 2023, GoLocal secured copies of court documents that included copies of text messages between Reilly and, at the time, a client in which the two discussed drug use, his "medicating" his children, sex, and allegedly perpetrating a fraud against the police and the court.

 

Fallout from Arrests 

Reilly said that after “eleven unfortunate years,” that the couple divorced in 2021, at which time she got an apartment, and was getting child support from Reilly.

Until she didn’t. 

When her husband was arrested last year, Reilly said she used hotel vouchers and food pantries when she couldn’t afford the basics. 

“When we were married, I’d been a stay-at-home mom,” said Reilly, who says she has since gotten a job in healthcare equipment sales — but says that it isn’t enough to provide housing for her and her daughters.

“I’d need to work 72 hours a day to be able to support us,” said Reilly. 

Reilly said they were able to live with her family for a period of time, but that it was not feasible in the long-term. 

“How does this speak to his character, kicking us out from living here?” said Reilly of being told to leave his family home. “How is the judge OK with this?”

Reilly pointed out how many of her ex-husband’s political allies rallied around him when he had first been arrested, but that no one has reached out to her to help. 

“His accountability is nil. Personally, I would have disowned my own son a long time ago. What are we teaching our kids — a slap on the wrist and getting away with literally murder. A lot of people turned a blind out or didn’t give a shit,” said Reilly. “Politics is corrupt."

"I hate when people say oh, he needs help and had a drug problem," said Reilly. "I think he’s a piece of shit who knows what he’s doing and likes to do the wrong thing. He’s a complete and total narcissist.”