Man's murder confession to distraught mom allowed at trial
It's been 5½ years since Sade Glover's murder, but a former classmate who confessed to gunning down the Warrenville teen lost another attempt Thursday to stop a jury from hearing his incriminating words.
Joshua Lee Matthews sought to bar the murderous confession he made to his distraught mother, as police listened in, when she visited her son after his October 2004 arrest.
He argues police "tricked and cajoled" him and didn't properly advise him of his rights, but DuPage Circuit Judge Perry Thompson ruled proper procedure was followed.
Thompson denied Matthews' earlier request to suppress his videotaped police statements.
Matthews, 25, is acting as his own attorney despite never stepping foot in a law school.
His frequent defense motions, discipline problems in jail and disputes with former lawyers have stalled the legal proceedings.
Matthews is unapologetic about the delays.
"I am trying to conclude my case as soon as possible," he wrote in a recent court filing. "I'll sit in here another six years before I take one step unprepared."
Matthews admitted opening fire on the 17-year-old college student about 10:30 p.m. Oct. 9, 2004 as she exited her car in what prosecutors described as a revenge killing. Less than two weeks earlier, Matthews was arrested after Glover accused him of punching her during a dispute in her garage. After posting bond, authorities allege, Matthews ambushed Glover to keep her from testifying in the misdemeanor battery case.
It was the slain teen's mother, Barbara Hudson, who found the lifeless body of her only child outside their townhouse, just hours after the slaying.
Police zeroed in on Matthews early in the investigation. A couple days later, they tracked him down through cellular phone technology to a Maywood home. Police said he agreed to meet with them for questioning. Afterward, he confessed, admitted ditching the gun and apologized - all of which was videotaped and played in court during an earlier pretrial hearing.
Matthews also confessed to his mother, as three police officers listened. In his latest motion, Matthews argued his mother in effect served as an agent for police so he should have been admonished again of his right to remain silent.
"It's an absurd argument," Assistant State's Attorney Steven Knight said. "The cat was already out of the bag. He already confessed."
Matthews has remained in DuPage County jail without bond since October 2004 on first-degree murder charges. He is due in court May 18 on his request to call an expert regarding false confessions. Prosecutors are not seeking the death penalty if Matthews is convicted.
Matthews and Glover attended Wheaton Warrenville South High School, where they were described as acquaintances. She worked at a Warrenville Walgreens and attended College of DuPage. Family members have said she planned to transfer to Northern Illinois University to pursue her goal of becoming a genetic scientist.