Damon Matthews was sentenced to death by the State of Texas for the murder of Esphandiar Gonzalez
According to court documents Damon Matthews demanded the keys from Esphandiar Gonzalez to his car. When Gonzalez refused he would be fatally shot. Matthews was arrested when he was caught cleaning the blood out of the car
Damon Matthews would be convicted and sentenced to death
Damon Matthews Photos
Damon Matthews Now
| Name | Matthews, Damon | |
| TDCJ Number | 999476 | |
| Date of Birth | 12/24/1984 | |
| Date Received | 04/20/2004 | |
| Age (when Received) | 19 | |
| Education Level (Highest Grade Completed) | 11 | |
| Date of Offense | 03/06/2003 | |
| Age (at the time of Offense) | 18 | |
| County | Harris | |
| Race | Black | |
| Gender | Male | |
| Hair Color | Black | |
| Height (in Feet and Inches) | 5′ 7″ | |
| Weight (in Pounds) | 211 | |
| Eye Color | Brown | |
| Native County | Harris | |
| Native State | Texas |
Damon Matthews Case
A federal appeals court has rejected an appeal from a Houston man on death row for the 2003 slaying of a 20-year-old friend whose car he stole.
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has refused arguments from lawyers for 31-year-old Damon Matthews who contended attorneys failed to investigate and present evidence at his 2004 trial that Matthews may have suffered brain damage because of his mother’s drug and alcohol use while she was pregnant.
The court said Thursday the case record shows an abundance of mitigating evidence, including his mother’s substance abuse.
Matthews was condemned for shooting Esphandiar Gonzalez seven times in the head and stealing his car. Matthews was arrested hours later as he was cleaning blood from inside the car.
He doesn’t yet have an execution date
https://ktxs.com/news/texas/federal-court-rejects-appeal-from-condemned-houston-man_
