An 18-year-old student charged with murder in the stabbing death of a classmate was denied bail on Wednesday.
Andre Matthews is accused of killing Andrew Messmer after an argument escalated during a science class at Sterling High School in Baytown, according to court records. Investigators said the dispute began with a vape pen valued at $21 that Matthews claimed was missing and believed Messmer had taken it.
During Wednesday’s hearing, Goose Creek Police Department investigator Corey Scott testified that he saw “quite a bit” of blood in the classroom, on the floor and on the walls the day of the incident.
Wednesday’s hearing was also one of the first under a new state law that allows prosecutors to request that defendants held without bail for non-capital crimes.
“This is brand new. As we discussed, this is a constitutional amendment that gives prosecutors and the judiciary another toolbox to make sure people who shouldn’t be out are able to stay home,” Harris County District Attorney Sean Teale said after the Matthews hearing.
Matthews showed no apparent emotion during the hearing as prosecutors and defense attorneys argued over whether he was eligible for bail. Messmer’s family was in attendance at the court.
Detective Scott also showed surveillance video from inside the school. While the video has not been released publicly, prosecutors described footage of Matthews and Messmer entering an empty science lab together. A few minutes later, a teaching assistant pushed Matthews out of the classroom.
Prosecutors told the judge that Matthews stabbed Messmer inside the lab and argued that Matthews posed an ongoing threat to the community.
“It took over a minute to pry the defendant off the victim,” a prosecutor told the court, adding that Matthews allegedly choked Messmer and blood poured from his wounds.
The state also released Matthews’ school disciplinary records, which prosecutors said showed an escalating pattern of behavior, including a previous incident in which he allegedly brought a knife to school.
Judge Emily DeToto cited those school records as a key factor in her decision to deny bail.
“The school records are extensive,” District Attorney Till said, “and they demonstrate an escalating pattern of behavior.”
Matthews’ defense attorney, Gian Paolo Mecerola, said he was not surprised by the ruling but believed the school district was also responsible. He noted that Matthews was part of a special education program and said the district was aware of the behavioral issues but allowed him to continue attending school.
“There’s obviously a problem here,” Meserola said, adding that Matthews was raised by his sister, his legal guardian. He said he was continuing to investigate the circumstances.
District Attorney Thiel emphasized that the hearing was not a determination of guilt or innocence. Instead, he said, the focus is on whether Matthews should remain in custody while the case progresses. The case has not yet been presented to a grand jury and no trial date has been set.
“This is new to everyone,” Teal said of the bail denial process. “We don’t have a full-time framework yet.”
Andrew Messmer’s family attended the hearing but declined to comment.
The case is still in its early stages and Matthews will remain jailed without bail as legal proceedings continue.
Relevant:
Goose Creek CISD says Baytown high school student dies after being stabbed by classmate
Harris County District Attorney’s Office accepts murder charges against teen accused of stabbing classmate: officials
School district keeps quiet, pays $3M bail for student accused of stabbing friend at school
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