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By Ivan Pereira
Thursday, November 12, 2009

One year ago this week, 14-year-old Sabrina Matthews was found dead by her parents inside their Cambria Heights home.

Although 12 months have passed since the incident that rocked the girl’s family, friends and community, her activist mother said the pain still lingers in her heart because the killer has never been caught.

“She didn’t deserve this death,” Shirda Matthews said. “I want this person caught and I want justice.”

On the anniversary Monday, the Matthewses were joined by more than 60 community members, elected officials and supporters to honor the slain teen’s memory and continue the search for her murderer. Mourners fought back tears during the candlelight vigil outside the Matthews residence at 234th Street as they remembered the August Martin High School student with prayers, gospel hymns and anecdotes about her short life.

“It is important that the family gets the support from the neighborhood and the school community,” said Georgia Grange, who taught Sabrina Matthews at PS 176.

On Nov. 9, 2008, Sabrina Matthews was found half-naked with her throat slashed inside her 234th Street home by her father, Livingston, police said. There were no signs of forced entry, according to police. The killer has not been found by police and the investigation is still ongoing.

The teen’s death shocked the community, which neighbors said was quiet and safe until the incident.

“It makes you more alert. You don’t take for granted that all is well,” said Wanda Harris, who has lived on the Matthews’ block for 30 years.

Sabrina Matthews’ older sister, Anita, 32, said she rarely sleeps at night because she cannot get over the violence that has afflicted her family.

“You don’t know who is who,” she said. “You never know what could happen.”

Anita Matthews and others who knew the teen said Sabrina Matthews lived to help others, whether it be volunteering her time to help students with their homework or making someone smile with a joke.

The slain teen never hung out with the rough crowd at school and never fought with her parents or did anything that would lead her to be killed so horrifically, according to her godmother, Morgan Winsome.

“She was a very nice girl, a very nice girl,” Winsome said. “She was a sweetheart.”

The city has offered a $22,000 reward for information relating to the murder and reward posters were handed out to everyone who attended the memorial. Community leaders, including City Councilman Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans), pleaded with neighborhood residents to provide the police with any information they know because investigators are still working hard to catch the killer.

“This is something that touches all the hearts of those invested in the case,” he said.

Shirda Matthews also echoed the call for help and thanked everyone for her support during the last 12 months.

“Oh, God, give me the strength to speak,” she said as she talked to mourners. “This walk is not an easy walk. No mother should go on this walk.”