The brutal murder of a college student, whose body was discovered with gunshot and burn wounds on freight train tracks in Brooklyn in February, has led to a 19-year-old suspect’s arrest.
Brooklyn resident Isiah Baez was apprehended on Thursday at 10:30 p.m. and faces charges including murder, criminal possession of a weapon, and evidence tampering. A week prior to Baez’s arrest, Remy McPrecia, 24, was also detained in Brooklyn for concealing a corpse and tampering with evidence.
The exact reasons behind Matthews’ gruesome murder have not yet been disclosed.
Danielle Matthews, the victim’s mother, did not mince words when expressing her feelings towards Baez. She described him as “evil” and stated that she could not forgive him for taking her only son’s life. She communicated her desire for him to face the full extent of the law.
DeAndre Matthews resided on East 56th Street near Linden Boulevard in East Flatbush and was reported missing on February 6. The subsequent day, his lifeless body, bearing a gunshot wound to the head and extensive burn injuries, was discovered on train tracks on Nostrand Avenue, in close proximity to Brooklyn College. Evidence also suggested that Matthews had suffered smoke inhalation.
Matthews, who was studying criminal justice at SUNY Broome Community College with aspirations to become a social worker, was remembered fondly by his family. His mother’s Jeep Cherokee was discovered burnt out on Troy Avenue shortly after his body was found, adding another layer of mystery to this tragic case.
Danielle Matthews expressed her deep desire for justice for her son in a statement to CBS New York. His sister, Dajanae Gillespie, emphasized her brother’s peaceful nature and distanced him from any violent or gang-related activities.