LEONARD GRAY

HAHNVILLE – Vincent E. Teal quietly agreed to a life behind bars Thursday, as sentence for the 1999 stabbing murder of Debra A. Morales Matthews of Boutte, almost whispering his “yes, sir” responses to the plea agreement, while one of his attorneys steadied him with a hand to the small of his back. An out-of-control weekend turned tragic in March 1999, when Matthews, 32, was stabbed more than 60 times in her residence and her body later discovered by her father and brother. It was the first homicide of 1999 for St. Charles Parish. Teal was represented by Steven Lemoine and Manina Dubroca and prosecuted by assistant district attorney Kim McElwee before 29th Judicial District Judge Emile St. Pierre. St. Pierre, his voice breaking at times, addressed Teal while handing down sentence: “I have never been able to understand how some people can so callously and brutally take the life of another human being,” and added of the murder itself, “It was barbaric in the worst sense of the word.” The judge told Teal the defendant was “not capable of functioning in a free society,” and continued, “I take comfort in knowing that in Louisiana, life means life and you will never be a free man again.” Teal then signed the plea agreement, as Dubroca steadied him at the podium with a hand at the small of his back. With that, St. Pierre sentenced Teal to life in prison at hard labor, without parole, probation or suspension of sentence. “I think it’s an appropriate sentence.” Matthews’ father, Louis Morales, agreed. “He can’t do it to nobody ever again,” Morales said outside the courthouse in Hahnville. “That judge did a hell of a job.” Teal, 21, and Amin E. Amin Jr., 18, both of Metairie, were charged with the second-degree murder of Debra A. Morales Matthews, 32, of 431 Acorn St. “It was probably one of the most vicious things I’ve ever seen,” Champagne commented at the time. Amin is scheduled for trial Oct. 23, according to McElwee. District Attorney Harry Morel commented: “This plea ensures that a vicious criminal will be removed from society for the remainder of his natural life. It is also our hope that this plea will bring closure and healing to the family of Debra Matthews.” Following the stabbing of Matthews, her car was stolen, and it ran out of gas on U.S. Highway 90 near the Jefferson Parish line, then set on fire. Ironically, the wrecker service called out to pick up the vehicle was that of Matthews’ father and brother, who recognized the car, went to her home and discovered her body. Champagne said events began when Matthews, recently separated from her estranged husband only a few weeks, went out drinking with a female cousin on March 26, 1999. In a Metairie bar, the two women met Teal and Amin, who claimed to be brothers and ex-military. The foursome partied together all weekend and drove around together for several days. At one point, the quartet attempted to break into the trailer residence of one of the men’s uncles, only to be chased away. Nevertheless, Picayune, Miss. police retained a report of that incident. The four made their way back to Matthews’ residence and, Champagne continued, Matthews’ cousin left the residence that night at 10:30, while an argument was going on between Teal and Matthews over his wanting to use her car. At 3:45 p.m., a St. Charles Parish sheriff’s deputy spotted a smoldering car on the shoulder of U.S. Highway 90, near Pier 2 lounge. Louis Morales Wrecker Service was called out and Louis Sr. arrived to take the car and return it to the wrecker yard, located a few blocks away from Matthews’ residence. Morales Jr. recognized the car as one they earlier sold to her and, together, they went to her residence at 5:29 a.m. Inside the house, Matthews’ body was found beneath a mattress in her bedroom, with more than 50 stab wounds and numerous defensive wounds, Champagne related. Meanwhile, as Teal and Amin told police later, they were given a ride to Metairie and dropped off at midnight at the Huey Long Bridge, from where they went to a friend’s Metairie apartment. Champagne continued that, with the assistance of Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and Kenner Police Department, the pair were tracked and apprehended Thursday at 1 a.m. Teal, Champagne said, had an open, fresh knife wound between his thumb and index finger, and also had other scratches and small cuts on his hand. Amin had a small criminal history, highlighted by a 1998 arrest for illegal use of a weapon. Teal was another story, Champagne noted. With 17 arrests in his adult life, the 21-year-old’s arrest record, or “rap sheet,” included bookings for DWI, possession of marijuana, simple robbery, felony theft, battery of a police officer, simple battery, disturbing the peace by being intoxicated and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile. In 1999 alone, Champagne said, Teal was booked with DWI, theft of items valued between $100 and $500 and bail-jumping. In another twist to the story, on Sept. 12, 2000, two teen-age girls arrived at the jail in Hahnville to deliver a pair of tennis shoes to Teal. However, as Sgt. Markell Jones quickly discovered during a routine seal, the toe of one shoe was stuffed with marijuana. Jessica Martinez, 18, of Kenner, was quickly booked with introduction of marijuana into a penal institution. On Feb. 15, 2001, she pleaded guilty and was ordered to attend boot camp at Hunt Correctional Institute in Geismar. In his remarks to her that day, St. Pierre said, “…You were associating with someone who really you shouldn’t be associating with, and he’s, how do I say this, he’s of no redeeming social value to you. He will be in jail for the rest of his life, and there is nothing to be gained for Jessica to hang onto any kind of relationship there.” The judge added to Martinez, “It’s OK to feel sorry for him, it’s OK to have pity on him, it’s OK to pray for him. “But there’s no need to be directly involved with him, OK?” On Thursday, St. Pierre concurred that for Martinez to turn her life around was one of the few bright spots in this emotionally-draining case. St. Pierre reported Thursday that Martinez successfully completed the boot camp and has relocated to Mississippi, having turned her life around.