Erick Hernandez-Mendez guilty: Stabbed wife 5 days after marriage, gets life in prison

Erick Hernandez-Mendez was found guilty of first-degree murder of his wife, Christina Matos, and sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Matos was stabbed to death in 2021 at the Raleigh apartment that the couple shared with a roommate. Jurors deliberated for about four hours before delivering the unanimous verdict on Wednesday afternoon.

Hernandez-Mendez could be seen in tears as he was placed in handcuffs shortly after the judge read the verdict.

Matos' mother, Yolanda Matos, read an emotional statement after the ruling, sometimes berating Hernandez-Mendez while reflecting on the tragic death of her 20-year-old daughter.

"Look at what you've done to her and what you've done to her family," Yolanda Matos said. "Look at what you've done to me," she pleaded.

"I never imagined being here fighting for justice for her," the victim's mother said. "As a mother when giving life, I never imagined my own daughter leaving before me."

Christina Matos' father, Gerardo Matos, spoke to the courtroom through an interpreter.

"Today, justice was done for Christina," he said. "This gentleman deserves to be in hell."

"You will never get past with what you did to Christina," brother Abraham Matos said to Hernandez-Mendez. "It is chilling to watch him act as if nothing is happening to him right now."

The judge, Keith Gregory, thanked the family for their statements.

Gregory explained his ruling of a life sentence and added he felt "the jury did the right thing." Hernandez-Mendez will not have educational or vocational opportunities while in prison.

"I want him to sit and think about what he did," said Gregory.

During their deliberations, the jury asked to review crucial pieces of evidence from the murder, including a knife, text messages, pictures of the bedroom where the murder happened along with other items. The jury also wanted to hear certain parts of Erick Hernandez-Mendez's interview with Raleigh police.

Hernandez-Mendez did not speak after the sentencing. His attorney said they will file an appeal.