Christina Matos.Photo: FacebookAn arrest has been made in the killing ofNorth Carolina college student Christina Maria Matos, who was found dead inside her locked bedroom on Sunday — two days after celebrating her 20th birthday.Eric Gael Hernandez-Mendez, 20, was charged with first-degree murder Wednesday, according to a press release from Raleigh Police.According to investigators, Hernandez-Mendez and Matos were roommates.At this point, authorities are not saying how Matos was killed, or what may have driven Hernandez-Mendez’s alleged crime.The suspect was in court Thursday for a preliminary hearing, but was not asked to enter a plea.He does not yet have an attorney who could speak on his behalf.PEOPLE was unable to locate any of Hernandez-Mendez’s relatives for comment.Matos grew up in Clayton, N.C., and worked several jobs. Recently, she had been waitressing at an area nightclub.Matos had taken classes in the fall at Wake Technical Community College, but wasn’t enrolled at the school this spring.Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.Yolanda Matos, Christina’s mother,spoke tothe News and Observerafter attending Thursday’s hearing.The grieving mom said she’s stunned someone her daughter had known for years would allegedly do her harm.“I can’t believe the kids, the persons, they [killed] her in her house, her apartment,” she told the paper. “As a mother, you live your life for your kids.”
Christina Matos.Photo: Facebook
An arrest has been made in the killing ofNorth Carolina college student Christina Maria Matos, who was found dead inside her locked bedroom on Sunday — two days after celebrating her 20th birthday.Eric Gael Hernandez-Mendez, 20, was charged with first-degree murder Wednesday, according to a press release from Raleigh Police.According to investigators, Hernandez-Mendez and Matos were roommates.At this point, authorities are not saying how Matos was killed, or what may have driven Hernandez-Mendez’s alleged crime.The suspect was in court Thursday for a preliminary hearing, but was not asked to enter a plea.He does not yet have an attorney who could speak on his behalf.PEOPLE was unable to locate any of Hernandez-Mendez’s relatives for comment.Matos grew up in Clayton, N.C., and worked several jobs. Recently, she had been waitressing at an area nightclub.Matos had taken classes in the fall at Wake Technical Community College, but wasn’t enrolled at the school this spring.Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.Yolanda Matos, Christina’s mother,spoke tothe News and Observerafter attending Thursday’s hearing.The grieving mom said she’s stunned someone her daughter had known for years would allegedly do her harm.“I can’t believe the kids, the persons, they [killed] her in her house, her apartment,” she told the paper. “As a mother, you live your life for your kids.”
An arrest has been made in the killing ofNorth Carolina college student Christina Maria Matos, who was found dead inside her locked bedroom on Sunday — two days after celebrating her 20th birthday.
Eric Gael Hernandez-Mendez, 20, was charged with first-degree murder Wednesday, according to a press release from Raleigh Police.
According to investigators, Hernandez-Mendez and Matos were roommates.
At this point, authorities are not saying how Matos was killed, or what may have driven Hernandez-Mendez’s alleged crime.
The suspect was in court Thursday for a preliminary hearing, but was not asked to enter a plea.
He does not yet have an attorney who could speak on his behalf.
PEOPLE was unable to locate any of Hernandez-Mendez’s relatives for comment.
Matos grew up in Clayton, N.C., and worked several jobs. Recently, she had been waitressing at an area nightclub.
Matos had taken classes in the fall at Wake Technical Community College, but wasn’t enrolled at the school this spring.
Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.
Yolanda Matos, Christina’s mother,spoke tothe News and Observerafter attending Thursday’s hearing.
The grieving mom said she’s stunned someone her daughter had known for years would allegedly do her harm.
“I can’t believe the kids, the persons, they [killed] her in her house, her apartment,” she told the paper. “As a mother, you live your life for your kids.”
source: people.com
