Matthews Takes Plea Deal in Home Depot Murder

Justin Matthews, charged with 11 counts including first-degree murder in the shooting death of his ex-girlfriend outside Home Depot on St. Thomas in 2021, has taken a plea deal that will see him spend the next 50 years in prison if the court approves.

Under the deal, Matthews will plead guilty to second-degree murder, domestic violence, be sentenced to 50 years behind bars and pay a $5,000 fine, with restitution to be determined at a change of plea hearing yet to be scheduled, according to court documents filed Tuesday.

Matthews had faced life in prison on the first-degree murder charge, and at least 97 additional years if sentenced to the minimum allowed on the 10 other charges, which included second-degree murder, five firearm violations, reckless endangerment, third-degree assault and first-degree assault, domestic violence. He was also facing a minimum of $126,500 in fines.

Jury selection had been set for Aug. 26 and the trial for Sept. 9 in Superior Court on St. Thomas, almost three years to the day that Keoner Baron, 20, was shot dead as she sat under a tree in the Home Depot parking lot, waiting for a ride home following her shift at the store on the afternoon of Sept. 4, 2021. Matthews was arrested the next day and his bail set at $200,000 cash, with no 10 percent security permitted. He has been in custody ever since.