Man Charged with Murder for 2013 Death of Fiancee

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A man has been Indicted for murder in the 2013 death of his fiancee.

According to a Bowie County Sheriff’s Office press release On September 9, 2013 at approximately 2 a.m. they were notified of a fire at a house in Hooks, TX. Once on scene, responding deputies found Sonjha Banks in the front yard. Her fiance, identified as Toddrick Eugene Matthews, claimed that he just returned home to find his residence on fire with his fiancee deceased in the bathtub.

According to the press release it was apparent that she had been beaten as she had obvious trauma to her face and head. Investigators believed she died as a result of foul play and that the home had been intentionally burned in an attempt to conceal the murder.

The fire extinguished itself and did minimal damage to residence.

Toddrick Matthews spoke with Bowie County Investigator Will Buttram and retired Texas Ranger Jay Womack during the initial investigation. According to the release, “his alibi seemed self-serving and he claimed that someone had robbed his home of a small safe containing $9,000 in U.S. Currency.” A search of the home resulted in a substantial amount of evidence being sent to the Texas Department of Public Safety Crime Laboratory.

Both Ranger Womack and Investigator Buttram left their respective employers and the investigation was taken over by Texas Ranger Todd Martin and Bowie County Captain Robby McCarver.

According to the release the continuing investigation revealed that Toddrick Eugene Matthews was responsible for the death of Sonjha Banks.

In cooperation with the Bowie County District Attorney’ Office, the case was presented to a Bowie County Grand Jury. Toddrick Eugene Matthews was indicted for the murder of Sonjha Banks on Thursday. Texas Rangers conducted surveillance on Matthews’ DFW area residence and subsequently arrested him on Friday.

He is being held in the Dallas County Jail and is awaiting transport to the Bowie County Jail.

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