A Pennsylvania man has pleaded guilty for murdering a 14-year-old girl in Cambria Heights almost 10 years ago.
Rashon Venable, 24, of Albrightsville, PA, and formerly of Queens Village, was charged with the murder of 14-year-old Sabrina Matthews, who was found dead in her home in November 2008. He pleaded guilty on Wednesday to second-degree murder.
According to Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown, Venable is due to return to court for sentencing on March 1, when Queens Supreme Court Justice Kenneth C. Holder will likely order Venable to serve an indeterminate term of 19 years to life in prison.
According to charges, on Nov. 9, 2008, Sabrina’s father discovered her body inside her bedroom. She had a deep slash wound to her neck, multiple stab wounds to her face, neck and arms and there was no sign of forced entry into the residence.
At the time of the murder, Venable was 16 years old and living two miles away from the crime scene in Queens Village.
According to the Queens District Attorney’s office, Venable’s DNA was a match to biological evidence that was found at the crime scene in Cambria Heights. After his DNA caused linked Venable to the crime, he was extradited to New York on Nov. 7, 2016.
“The defendant has now admitted to this violent, senseless killing of a teenage girl,” said Brown in a statement. “This case highlights how important DNA analysis is when it comes to law enforcement. The defendant’s DNA was entered into the national DNA databank and matched evidence retrieved from the crime scene — approximately eight years after the slaying. My office is committed to working tirelessly to insure that justice is done — no matter how many years it may take. The defendant, now faces a lengthy term of incarceration for this heinous act.”
