India Chapple | Homicide Watch DC

Probable Cause Found in Case Against Tracy Mathis in the Stabbing Death of India Chapple

Timothy Ryan — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 12:42:40 -0400

In a preliminary hearing Monday, Judge Russell Canan ordered Tracy Mathis to be held without bond after the court found probable cause to believe the charge of second-degree murder. Mathis is suspected of stabbing and killing India Chapple in his home on April 19 in Southeast Washington.

Judge Canan said although the defense argued convincingly that Chapple was the aggressor in the incident, the force with which Mathis allegedly acted was too excessive to be deemed self-defense. Defense attorney Kia Sears argued Chapple followed Mathis and attacked him, making his actions warranted.

Metropolitan Police Detective King Watts testified Monday that the crime scene team found no evidence of a struggle in Mathis’ apartment and that someone appeared to have tried to clean a patch of blood found at the door.

Watts said Mathis told him Chapple had forced her way into his apartment, thrown his laptop, punched him in the face and poked him in the eyes while sitting on top of him before Mathis stabbed her with a foldable hand-width knife.

Mathis later told police the location of the knife he said he used in the fight.

Mathis and Chapple had children together, according to Watts’ testimony, and the two had a history of sometimes-violent arguments. Mathis pleaded guilty to a domestic violence charge in 2006, but according Watts’ recount of a witness’ testimony, Chapple was also an aggressor in the disputes at times.

On Friday, Watts testified that the night Chapple was killed, police found a trail of blood leading from Mathis’ door to where two witnesses found Chapple conscious but severely injured. One of the witnesses, who Watts said was dating Mathis, later brought Mathis to the police station, where he was cooperative and forthcoming.

There were no signs of injury to Mathis when he arrived at the police station and the defendant did not complain of any pain, Watts said on Monday, although the detective admitted he did not look for injuries anywhere not immediately visible to him.

Judge Canan denied Sears’ request to release Mathis, citing a long list of prior charges, including several weapons charges.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Worm said Monday “it’s possible” that a plea offer will be extended in the case.

A felony status conference is scheduled at 10 a.m. on Sept. 5.

Additional reporting by Kristian Hernandez.

Comment of the Day: "India please know that you are in a place without harm or hurt, no pain, pure happiness and peace."

Kristian Hernandez — Wed, 23 Apr 2014 14:44:53 -0400

TANIKA writes about India Chapple, 26, who died from a stab wound last Saturday in Southeast D.C.

Ms. India Chapple you were an amazing person. I had the pleasure of meeting you at my daughter’s school. We would talk whenever I would see you. I thought back on the day our cars got booted and how we were trying to figure out the next step. It’s funny how the small things in life become a big part of our lives. Our small talks touched me and I will hold them dear to my heart. India you were very helpful, always smiling and just a vibrant young woman. To say my heart is heavy is an understatement. My daughter came home today saying how she was not going to see you anymore; confused and unclear as to what happened it was that moment I realized how much she will miss you. I can only imagine how your own babies must feel; one thing I know is that you loved them very much.
India please know that you are in a place without harm or hurt, no pain, pure happiness and peace. I trust that God will keep your babies safe. I will keep them and your loved ones in my prayers. You will forever be missed.
Tanika

Tracy Mathis Held in Connection with Stabbing Death of India Chapple

Megan Arellano — Tue, 22 Apr 2014 09:07:15 -0400

Tracy Mathis, 30, was held without bond Monday on a charge of second-degree murder in connection with the death of 26-year-old India Chapple, a woman that he had two children with.

Charging documents say Chapple was found on April 19 at approximately 2:19 a.m. lying on the ground outside of Mathis's apartment building, conscious with an apparent stab wound to the chest. Less than an hour later, she was pronounced dead. Charging documents say that a medical examiner determined that the stab wound pierced her lung and heart.

Later that morning, Mathis was arrested. According to charging documents, Mathis told police that he and Chapple were romantically involved in the past, but have been apart for about eight years.

According to court documents, Mathis told police that in the early morning hours of April 19, Chapple showed up to his house unannounced and began an argument at his door about Mathis's relationship with another woman.

Documents say that Mathis said the arguments began to get heated and he tried to end the conversation by closing the door, but Chapple stuck her foot in the door. Then Chapple entered his apartment, continued arguing, and hit Mathis in his face, Mathis told police.

During the struggle, Mathis said that he grabbed a folding knife on his living room table and swung it, striking Chapple in the chest area. After stabbing Chapple with the knife, Mathis told police that he dropped the knife and continued to struggle with her until she left the apartment.

Shortly after, Mathis said that he went outside and didn't see Chapple at first, but noticed she had fallen to the ground just outside the steps of the apartment building. Mathis told police that he asked a witness to call 911.

The witness later told police that they did not remember seeing Mathis when the witness found Chapple lying in the bushes outside the apartment building. The witness called 911 and waited until the paramedics arrived, according to documents.

A preliminary hearing for this case is scheduled for May 8.

Charging documents are below.

Mathis, Tracy charging documents (PDF)Mathis, Tracy charging documents (Text)

Tracy Mathis Arrested in Early Morning SE DC Stabbing Death of India Chapple

Laura Amico — Sat, 19 Apr 2014 17:22:27 -0400

A 26-year-old Southeast DC woman was fatally stabbed early Saturday morning; police identified her as India Chapple.

Police said they responded to a call for an unconscious person in the 2500 block of Pomeroy Road Southeast shortly after 2 a.m. Chapple was transported to a hospital before she died of her injuries.

Later Saturday morning, 30-year-old Tracy Mathis, also of Southeast DC, was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder while armed in connection with Chapple's death.

A press release from MPD is after the jump.

April 19, 2014

Arrest Made in Homicide: 2500 Block of Pomeroy Road, Southeast

(Washington, DC) – Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch have announced that an arrest has been made in the homicide which occurred in the 2500 block of Pomeroy Road, Southeast.

On Saturday, April 19, 2014, at approximately 2:17 am, officers from the Seventh District responded to a call for the report of an unconscious person in the 2500 block of Pomeroy Road, Southeast. Upon arrival, they located an adult female suffering from an apparent stab wound. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel arrived on the scene and transported her to a local hospital for treatment where she succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead.

The decedent has been identified as 26-year-old India Chapple of Southeast, DC.

On Saturday, April 19, 2014, at approximately 10:45 am, 30-year-old Tracy Mathis of Southeast, Washington, DC, was arrested by members of the Homicide Branch, and charged him with Second Degree Murder While Armed in the stabbing death of India Chapple.