2004 Executions - Ynobe Katron Matthews :
Executed January 6, 2004 at 6:18 p.m. in Texas by lethal injection.
Summary of the Murder :
Statistical Data:
Murderer - Ynobe Katron Matthews
- Date of Birth - April 14,1976
- Race - Black
- Sex - Male
- Age when crime committed - 24
- Age when executed - 27
- Date of Sentence - August 15, 2001
Victim - Carolyn Casey
-
Date of Murder - May 28, 2000
- Race - White
- Sex - Female
- Age when murdered - 21
- Method of Murder - Strangulation
- Relationship to Murderer - Acquaintance
Details of the Crime:
Later that evening the police investigated a fire in Casey's apartment and discovered Casey's half dressed, partially burned body. The inner part of her legs and vaginal area had been burned.
The Investigation of the Crime:
Forensic Evidence:
The Autopsy of the Murdered Victim:
Mathews' Confession:
Procedural History:
- August 24, 2000 - Matthews was indicted for the capital murder of Carolyn Casey.
- June 15, 2001 - Matthews was convicted and sentenced to death.
- July 2, 2003 - The conviction was affirmed by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.
- September 10, 2003 - Texas Court of Criminal Appeals dismissed application for state habeas relief at his request.
- September 30, 2003 - Execution scheduled for January 6, 2004, by Brazoria County District Judge Steve Smith.
Criminal History:
In addition, the jury learned that Matthews had raped and murdered a sixth young woman. Her body was discovered in a ditch by a passing jogger. According to the medical examiner, the woman had a black eye and numerous other bruises to the left side of her head, was strangled with a ligature but not to the point of causing death, raped, then thrown from a moving vehicle while still alive which resulted in "road rash" over most of her body, an injury to her neck causing paralysis, and skull fractures to the back of her head which caused her brain to swell and, ultimately, her death. Fingerprints and DNA tied Matthews to the offense.
In addition, a female detention officer for the Brazos County Sheriff's Office who was responsible for guarding Matthews while he was awaiting trial testified that he behaved inappropriately towards her, making aggressive sexual remarks towards her that made her uneasy.
On one occasion Williams got into a fight and shattered the windshield of a car, and had threatened to choke another man during an altercation regarding the price of some marijuana Matthews was selling, plus he had prior convictions for unlawful possession of cocaine and cruelty to animals.
While incarcerated, Matthews had verbally abused a female officer and thrown his plastic cup at her with sufficient force to shatter the face of a nearby clock.
Execution
Mathews's final meal was three pieces of fried chicken, one pork chop, two pieces of fried fish, strawberry ice cream, and a six-pack of Coke.He had no final words to say.
Mathews's was executed January 6, 2004 at 6:18 p.m. by lethal injection.
