Woman Admits to Fatal Stabbing After Argument Over Cigarette: DA

BOSTON, MA — Two years after 26-year-old Maria Sanchez was stabbed to death outside a house party, the woman accused in her murder pleaded guilty Monday, the Suffolk County District Attorney's office said.

As the jury was being seated in her trial, the DA's office said, 32-year-old Takisa Matthews pleaded guilty to charges of manslaughter, armed assault with intent to murder, and assault and battery on Monday.

A Suffolk Superior Court judge sentenced her to 12-13 years in state prison, rather than the potential mandatory life term she could have faced upon conviction of first-degree murder.

According to the DA's office, if the trial had gone forward, prosecutors would have tried to prove the following allegations:

"... in the early morning hours of Oct. 18, 2014, Sanchez attended an afterhours party at a Washington Street apartment with a 37-year- old female relative. Matthews was also present at the party with a second group, though the two groups were unknown to one another.

During the party, an argument arose between members of the two groups regarding a cigarette. A member of Matthew’s group was removed from the party, but the confrontation with remaining members continued, prompting Sanchez to spray mace.

The party’s host soon shut the gathering down; however, the confrontation between the two groups continued outside the building. Sanchez and Matthews then fought on the stairs, where Matthews suffered a stab wound to the arm, and again in a nearby parking lot. During that final altercation, Matthews stabbed the surviving victim multiple times in the abdomen and then stabbed Sanchez in the back and shoulder as Sanchez fought with another acquaintance of Matthews.

Both victims were critically injured. Sanchez later died of her injuries at Boston Medical Center. The second victim was treated at Brigham & Women’s Hospital and survived her injuries.
Matthews sought treatment later that day of a stab wound to her arm, telling medical staff and Boston Police detectives that she had been stabbed during a robbery, but Boston Police homicide detectives collected witness statements and forensic evidence identifying her as the assailant."

Sanchez's mother and sister spoke in court before Matthews' sentencing, the DA's office said, quoting her mother as saying, “I am a very happy person, just like my daughter Maria was, but now I’m more secluded in my own four walls. I’m strong in front of everyone, staying busying, working or preaching, but on the inside I’m destroyed.”

Image via Shutterstock