A Washington D.C. woman is dead at the hands of a man who reportedly stalked her for more than 20 years.
According to WUSA, D.C. Metro police discovered Sylvia Matthew’s body on December 3, after she had called them three times that day because of Michael Garrett. Garrett attempted to burglarize her home three separate times that day. Matthews initially called the police that morning after seeing the man who reportedly murdered her, broke into her vehicle and tried to enter her house. Police arrived, but Garrett had left the scene.
At 8:44 that morning, Garrett was outside her home, and Matthews called the cops again– this time, she put the suspect on the phone with the police. They warned Garrett to leave the woman alone.
According to witnesses, the man would show up at the 71-year-old woman’s house for the final time, shortly after 11 am. Garrett successfully broke into Matthews’ home. D.C. Metro Police arrived and discovered her badly beaten and nearly dead on her basement floor. WUSA reported that the victim suffered severe injuries to her head. Police found Garrett in the basement and took him into custody. Police also discovered cameras outside of her house.
One day later, Matthews succumbed to her injuries.
Matthews met Garrett when he was an inmate in 1998 at the Old Lorton Reformatory. According to Local NBC 4, the woman worked in the pharmacy. The news outlet reported that when he was released from prison, he broke into her home and attacked her in 1999. She escaped his wrath by running to a neighbor’s house.
Garrett, 66, served 24 years in prison for the attack.
Despite the U.S. Attorney’s opposition, Superior Court Judge Robert Okun granted Garrett a “compassionate release” two years early– in March due to the high number of COVID-19 outbreaks within the prison system.
Soon after his release, Garrett resumed stalking and harassing. In October, he showed up at the 71-year-old woman’s house again and threatened her. Although he was arrested, prosecutors opted not to follow through with the charges. Later in the month, he assaulted Matthews outside her home. Prosecutors failed the victim again by not pursuing charges.
Liz Odongo for the D.C. Coalition against Domestic Violence told WUSA, “Clearly Mr. Garrett had something about Ms. Matthews that he was fixated on. When someone does that, it’s really hard to understand the how and the why and what to do about it because it’s irrational.”
Matthews’ family is devastated over her death and is left trying to understand why he was released.
He should not have been on the street,” a relative told NBC 4. “The system failed us.”
Garrett has been charged with assault with intent to kill.
