ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — A Gastonia woman has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and multiple felony charges in connection with the death of a child, Buncombe County District Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday.
Chantarica Nasha Matthews, 32, entered the plea in Buncombe County Superior Court on Monday, June 30, before Judge Jacqueline Grant. In addition to second-degree murder, Matthews pleaded guilty to felony negligent child abuse causing serious bodily injury and felony concealing or failing to report the death of a child.
Grant had earlier ruled Matthews competent to stand trial.
Matthews was sentenced to between 137 and 177 months (11 years and 14 years) in prison and ordered to comply with mental health treatment as part of her sentence.
Because of the sensitive nature of the case, the privacy of the victim’s family and an ongoing case involving a co-defendant, prosecutors said no further information would be released.