Family confronts Raleigh man found guilty of murder in stabbing death of Christina Matos

A jury found Erick Hernandez-Mendez guilty Wednesday of stabbing his young wife to death in their Raleigh apartment, a death that came days after he married her to qualify for legal immigration status.

The family of Christina Matos, 20 years old when she was found dead in the Hillborough Street apartment in 2021, bowed their heads and hugged, then rose to face the now-convicted killer.

“I cannot call you animal, because sometimes an animal has compassion,” said Yolanda Matos, the victim’s mother, glaring at the defendant through tears.

“Look at what you did to her! Look at what you did to my family! Look at what you did to me!” she said.

Hernandez-Mendez, 23, was sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole. He closed his eyes at the verdict and kept his head down as one-by-one, his wife’s family and friends rose to confront him.

Her brother Abraham Matos recalled his “little sister” describing the defendant as “the nicest person” who deserved her help.

“You are a wolf in sheep’s clothing,” he said, adding, “You are the worst person to encounter, to use people like tools and throw them out when you break them.”

Matos’ mother wore a purple T-shirt with her daughter’s face on the front, along with a locket carrying her portrait. Before he addressed Hernandez-Mendez, Matos’ brother described the pain of sitting through nearly three weeks of evidence, including pictures of Matos’ 16 neck wounds and 31 cuts to her hands.

He added that his family understood the struggle immigrants face because his and Matos’ parents were undocumented until he turned 21 and was able to help with citizenship.

“You are a traitor to your kind,” he told Hernandez-Mendez, “a killer to the Hispanic community.”

Superior Court Judge Keith Gregory said he had no control over Hernandez-Mendez’ life in prison, but he should not receive and educational or vocational opportunities while he serves out his lifelong sentence.

“He should think about what he did,” the judge said.

‘Sham’ marriage to stay in U.S.

Throughout the trial, Hernandez-Mendez repeatedly testified that his marriage to Matios was a “sham” designed to keep him in the country legally, and that he is gay. Friends testified that he had come with his mother from Mexico when very young, but he was not eligible for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA status.

He maintained he did not kill his wife, but instead witnessed roommate Kailey Lynch-Firicano stab Matos in the neck, then agreed to conceal the death and help clean up afterward out of fear the roommate would harm his family.

Lynch-Firicano, meanwhile, was charged as an accessory to murder two years after Matos’ death, and she did not testify in Hernandez-Mendez’ trial.

Prosecutors pointed to the defendant’s repeated lies to Raleigh police, to Matos’ family and to the federal government regarding his marriage.

They also pointed out he owed considerable money from the $15,000 he agreed to pay for the marriage agreement, that Matos wanted nothing to do with him personally, and that he had conducted an Internet search asking “What happens if my US citizen wife dies?”

Jurors deliberated for roughly three hours over Tuesday and Wednesday.

“I believe the jury did the right thing,” Gregory said at the trial’s conclusion as Hernandez-Mendez stood. “Twelve people said you killer, 12 people said you murdered her, and I believe them.”