Three men have been jailed for life for the murder of teenager Tyler Donnelly, who was fatally stabbed in a targeted park ambush in Feltham in January 2024. Keith Preddie, Daniel Matos and Joshua Cowley were sentenced at the Old Bailey on 7 May 2026 after a meticulous Metropolitan Police investigation placed all three at the scene using GPS, CCTV and DNA evidence.
Who Was Tyler Donnelly?
Tyler Donnelly was a teenager from Feltham, west London, described by those who knew him as a football-mad young man who was deeply loved by his family and friends. He was fatally stabbed on 24 January 2024 in Hanworth Park, Feltham. Prosecutors told the court that Tyler had gone to the park that evening for drug-related reasons, making him a target for the three men who lay in wait for him.
His death was the result of a sustained, targeted attack lasting approximately five minutes. Unusually for a London knife murder, the killing was not caught on CCTV and was not witnessed by any member of the public — making the subsequent investigation all the more remarkable.
What Happened in Hanworth Park?
On the evening of 24 January 2024, Tyler Donnelly made his way to Hanworth Park. Unbeknown to him, Keith Preddie, Daniel Matos and Joshua Cowley had cycled to the location together, armed with two knives. The prosecution case, heard during a five-week trial at the Old Bailey beginning in early 2026, established that the three men had never previously met their victim — yet their attack on him was deliberate and premeditated.
The attack itself was brutal and sustained. Tyler was stabbed multiple times and died from his injuries at the scene. None of the defendants were caught immediately at the scene. Despite the absence of direct CCTV footage of the killing, the Metropolitan Police were able to build a comprehensive case against all three men through overlapping strands of forensic and digital evidence.
Who Killed Tyler Donnelly?
Three men were charged with and convicted of Tyler Donnelly’s murder. Keith Preddie, aged 34 at the time of sentencing and from Feltham, is described as the primary organiser. Daniel Matos, 23, is from Hounslow. Joshua Cowley, 29, is also from Hounslow. All three appeared at the Old Bailey on 27 February 2026 and were found guilty of murder following a five-week trial. They were sentenced on 7 May 2026.
A notable feature of the case is that despite the three defendants having no prior relationship with Tyler, the prosecution successfully argued that the attack was planned. Prosecutors presented evidence that Matos’s GPS tag tracked the group cycling to the park together and that both knives were brought to the scene with intent.
The Life Sentences: What Each Man Received
All three men were sentenced to life imprisonment, the mandatory sentence for murder in England and Wales. The judge set the following minimum terms — the minimum number of years each defendant must serve before being considered for parole:
- Keith Preddie — life with a minimum term of 27 years
- Daniel Matos — life with a minimum term of 27 years and 6 months
- Joshua Cowley — life with a minimum term of 25 years
The combined minimum terms total 79 years and 6 months. Even after serving their minimum terms, each man would only be released if the Parole Board determined they no longer posed a risk to the public. A life sentence in England and Wales means the sentence technically never ends — released prisoners remain on licence for life and can be recalled to prison at any time.
How Were They Caught?
The Metropolitan Police investigation that cracked the case was described in court as meticulous. Despite the absence of any witness or direct CCTV evidence of the killing itself, detectives were able to place all three men at the scene through a combination of overlapping evidence sources.
Central to the case was the fact that Daniel Matos was subject to a GPS tag at the time of the murder, which tracked him cycling to Hanworth Park on the evening in question. Mobile phone data corroborated the movements of all three suspects. Extensive CCTV footage, while not capturing the attack itself, placed the men in the surrounding area before and after the killing.
Forensic evidence was equally damning. Matos’s DNA was identified on an unlit cigarette found next to Tyler Donnelly’s body. A hoodie recovered from Matos’s bedroom was found to have Tyler’s blood on the sleeve. These strands of evidence, combined with the GPS and phone data, left the jury in little doubt as to what had taken place.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Keith Preddie, Daniel Matos and Joshua Cowley in prison?
Keith Preddie, Daniel Matos and Joshua Cowley are in prison because they were convicted of the murder of Tyler Donnelly, a teenager fatally stabbed in Hanworth Park, Feltham, on 24 January 2024. All three were found guilty following a five-week trial at the Old Bailey in early 2026 and sentenced to life imprisonment on 7 May 2026.
How long are the Tyler Donnelly killers serving?
Keith Preddie must serve a minimum of 27 years, Daniel Matos a minimum of 27 years and 6 months, and Joshua Cowley a minimum of 25 years before they can be considered for parole. All three are serving mandatory life sentences for murder, meaning they could remain in prison indefinitely if deemed a risk to the public.
Who was Tyler Donnelly?
Tyler Donnelly was a teenager from Feltham, west London. He was described by loved ones as football-mad and deeply loved. He was fatally stabbed in Hanworth Park on 24 January 2024. His killers were convicted at the Old Bailey in February 2026 and sentenced to life in May 2026.
How did police catch the Tyler Donnelly killers?
Police used GPS tag data, mobile phone records, CCTV footage and forensic evidence to catch the killers. Daniel Matos was wearing a GPS tag at the time of the murder, which tracked him to the scene. His DNA was also found on a cigarette near the body, and Tyler Donnelly’s blood was found on Matos’s clothing.
Where are Keith Preddie, Daniel Matos and Joshua Cowley being held?
The specific prisons where each man is held have not been publicly confirmed. As convicted murderers serving life sentences, they will be held in appropriate Category B or higher establishments within the HM Prison and Probation Service estate. Prison locations for individual inmates are not routinely published.
