Eric Matthews
Murderer
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- Gender
- male
- Country
- USA
- Location
- Louisiana/Indiana/Michigan, USA
- Date of birth
- 1974
- Age at first offence
- 16
- Characteristics
- parricide, rape
- Victim profile
- Two of his ex-girlfriends / H is wife, Lashann Matthews, 20 / His stepson, James, 1 1/2-year-old
- Method of murder
- Strangulation - ???
- Date(s) of murder
- 1990's - 1998
- Years active
- 1990–1998
- Date of arrest
- May 21, 1998
- Status
-
Life imprisonment
Entered a plea in Louisiana in exchange for a sentence of life without parole on August 30, 2006
Case record: Eric Matthews
Background
Eric Matthews was 24 years old when he was arrested in Chicago. He was a young schizophrenic Louisiana man charged with murdering his wife and young step-son, and he awaited trial for over eight years despite having confessed and fully cooperated with officials. He was willing to plead guilty in exchange for life without parole.
Investigation
After being arrested in Chicago, Eric Matthews confessed to killing his stepson, his wife, and another two women. The stepson, 1 1/2-year-old James, was found dead in a trash bin in New Orleans.
At first, Matthews said he dropped the kid at a hospital. He later admitted strangling the boy in a fit of rage. During questioning, Matthews also confessed to:
- a couple of rapes
- the murders of his wife and two ex-girlfriends
Matthews’ crime spree began with the killing of his wife, Lashann Matthews, 20, at their trailer home in Hammond, Louisiana, about 45 miles northwest of New Orleans. Authorities also believed that two murders occurred in the Indianapolis and Michigan areas.
Matthews additionally admitted committing two rapes in Indiana and Louisiana. He also confessed to killing two of his ex-girlfriends in the early 1990s, with authorities believing those two murders occurred in the Indianapolis and Michigan areas.
Arrest and related findings
James’ body was found two days later in a trash bin behind a church in a New Orleans suburb.
Matthews fled with Lashann Matthews’ two children, Rosalyn and James. Rosalyn was found with James unharmed at the time of Matthews’ arrested.
Trial and plea
The elected DA of Tangipahoa Parish pressed for a death penalty that no one impacted by the crime actually wanted. Matthews was represented by the Louisiana Capital Assistance Center. Additional representation and mitigation involvement included LCAC Director Neal Walker and mitigation specialist Melanie Carr (now the Director of A Fighting Chance, or AFC). Danalynn represented Matthews for most of the eight years during which Matthews awaited trial.
After extraordinary pre-trial litigation, numerous hearings, and an extensive mitigation investigation conducted by staff from LCAC, AFC and GRACE, the DA relented. Matthews entered a plea in exchange for a sentence of life without parole on August 30, 2006.
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