Matthew Sowders Arrested For The Murder Of Pregnant Texas Woman, Could Face Death Penalty
Matthew Sowders, 28, has been arrested for the murder of his estranged wife and her unborn child. Melissa Sowders was reported missing on December 26, 2013. Divers found her body Thursday, January 2 in Cypress Creek, located behind Matthew’s home.
The Inquisitr reported Thursday on the finding of a body that was believed to be that of the missing pregnant Texas woman, Melissa Rene Sowders. According to the report, police had believed that foul play had played a part in the woman’s disappearance.
ABC News reported that detectives arrested Matthew Sowders Thursday night after the discovery of the body in the creek behind his home. Matthew appeared in court today to face his charges.
“You’re here on a charge of capital murder, and I believe it involves the murder of two people, including an unborn child,” a court official stated when Sowders appeared at a probable cause hearing today.
Dustan Neyland, Matthew Sowders’ attorney, has denied that his client has had anything to do with the murder of his estranged wife, according to the Houston Chronicle. “He is maintaining his innocence. It was a shock to be charged and arrested without a cause of death determination. He is not guilty of this charge,” Neyland said.
Court documents state that a witness told investigators she had gone to Sowders’ apartment the day of Melissa’s disappearance. When Matthew opened the door, the witness told investigators that she saw what appeared to be a woman’s feet and lower legs lying on the floor. Before she could see anything else, the witness says that Matthew shut the door.
Even though Matthew is maintaining his innocence, reports state that if he is convicted in the murder of his estrange wife and her unborn baby, he faces capital murder charges that could land him the death penalty. Matthew is currently being held without bond in the Harris County jail.
[Image via Shutterstock/txking and by Harris County Sheriff’s Office via New York Daily News]
