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Double Murder Suspect Pleads Not Guilty

Jacques Dshawn Smith, 21, is charged with capital murder of multiple persons in connection with the deaths of Deja Matts, 19, and her sister, Abbaney Matts, 20.
Hunt County
Jacques Dshawn Smith, 21, is charged with capital murder of multiple persons in connection with the deaths of Deja Matts, 19, and her sister, Abbaney Matts, 20.

The Rowlett man accused of murdering a Texas A&M University-Commerce student and her sister in a university residence hall in February has pled not guilty.

Abbaney Matts and her sister Deja were found dead in Deja’s dorm room in Pride Rock on Feb. 4.

Jacques Dshawn Smith, 21, entered a plea of not guilty after being arraigned in the 196th District Court on a charge of capital murder of multiple persons. Smith was indicted by a Hunt County grand jury on the charge April 24. Judge Andrew Bench scheduled an interim hearing for Aug. 10.

Smith is jailed at the Hunt County Detention Center and is being held in lieu of a $2 million total bond. Smith is also facing a capital murder charge from Denton County, charges of aggravated robbery and evading arrest from Dallas County, and probation violation charges.

Smith is believed to be the ex-boyfriend of Abbaney Matts. Only a week before the shooting, he had attacked Abbaney, breaking a lamp over her head, beating her with a frying pan and threatening to kill her, according to police documents. Abbaney's two-year-old son was also injured in the attack.

Smith is being represented by an appointed defense attorney through the West Texas Regional Public Defender for Capital Cases program. Capital murder carries a maximum sentence of death by lethal injection or life in prison without the possibility of parole.

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Mark Haslett has served at KETR since 2013. Since then, the station's news operation has enjoyed an increase in listener engagement and audience metrics, as well recognition in the Texas AP Broadcasters awards.