In September 2017, the life of 33-year-old Montez A. Matthews was tragically cut short in his Richmond, Virginia home. Concerns arose when Matthews, a construction worker, failed to show up for his job, prompting his brother to check on him at his residence on Frank Road. Upon entering the home, his brother made the grim discovery of Matthews' body; he had been shot multiple times.
Investigators arriving at the scene noted that the closets had been emptied and that Matthews' expensive clothes, shoes, and jewelry were missing, suggesting a robbery had occurred.
The focus of the investigation quickly turned to Matthews' 37-year-old girlfriend, Shatema Smith, who lived with him. Smith was nowhere to be found, and her family and friends had not seen her since the weekend prior to the discovery of Matthews' body. This led to initial concerns that she might also be a victim or in danger. Authorities also began searching for Matthews' missing 2007 Mercedes Benz sedan. The investigation took a significant turn when police were able to track Smith's cell phone to Raleigh, North Carolina, nearly 150 miles away from Richmond.
Just three days after Matthews' body was found, Shatema Smith was apprehended in Wake County, North Carolina. Matthews' missing Mercedes was also recovered in North Carolina. Following her capture, Smith was extradited back to Richmond to face charges. On October 25, 2017, she was officially charged with first-degree murder, use of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
During her trial, which commenced in October 2018, prosecutors argued that the murder was the culmination of a troubled relationship plagued by arguments over Smith's drug use and financial issues. It was also revealed that on the night of the murder, Smith had discovered that Matthews was seeing another woman, leading to a heated argument. In her defense, Smith claimed she shot Matthews in self-defense, alleging he was abusive. However, the prosecution presented evidence that undermined her claims of a loving relationship, including recorded jailhouse conversations of a sexual nature with a new partner. Ultimately, a Richmond woman was convicted of first-degree murder in the shooting death of her boyfriend and was sentenced to serve 40 years in prison.
