Man who strangled girlfriend, put her in a water-filled bathtub and set house on fire denied a new trial

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Alabama head coach Nick Saban speaks to the media during an NCAA college football national signing day press conference, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015, in Tuscaloosa, Ala.(AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

TEXARKANA, Texas - A man who strangled his girlfriend to death and attempted to cover his crimes was denied a new trial Thursday by a Texas appellate court.

Toddrick Eugene Matthews, 41, was sentenced to life in prison last spring for the Sept. 8, 2013 murder of Sonjha Banks by a Bowie County jury. Evidence presented at Matthews' trial showed he stalked Banks for months, constantly called her phone while she was working and that Banks was ready to end the relationship.

Other evidence implied that Banks may have been sexually assaulted the night she was killed and before her body was placed in a tub filled with water and cleaning products. In the hours between Banks' murder and before Matthews called 911 to report that there was smoke in his Hooks, Texas, mobile home, Matthews left items at his mother's house and confessed to his brother that Banks was dead.

When investigators searched the trailer, they could not find any women's clothing or shoes, leading them to conclude Matthews had disposed of them. While soot covered surfaces in the house, none was found in Banks' lungs, meaning she was deceased prior to Matthews' attempt to burn the trailer with gasoline.

On appeal, Matthews argued there was insufficient evidence to support his conviction. The higher court disagreed, citing the chronology of events, the circumstantial evidence presented at trial and Matthews' behavior both before and after the murder.

"Twelve Bowie County citizens heard trial evidence leading them to find Toddrick Matthews guilty of the murder of Sonjha Banks. The Sixth court of appeals this week determined that the state introduced sufficient evidence of Matthews' responsibility for this brutal killing to uphold the jury verdict and conviction," First Assistant District Attorney Kelley Crisp said. "The Bowie County District Attorney's office is pleased with the outcome of this case, that Matthews will spend the rest of his life incarcerated."

Assistant District Attorney Lauren Richards, who prosecuted the case with Crisp, praised the higher court's ruling.

"The evidence presented to the jury at trial was that Toddrick Matthews not only murdered Sonjha Banks, but he also took steps to cover up the murder and destroy evidence by putting her in a chemical bath and attempting to set the house on fire," Richards said. "The investigation and trial were extremely difficult for all agencies involved and we are thankful the Court of Appeals determined the state's evidence was sufficient and affirmed the conviction."

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