BOSTON, Feb. 26, 2015—The Dorchester woman who allegedly stabbed 26-year-old Maria Sanchez to death during an altercation outside a house party was ordered held without bail at her arraignment today, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

TAKISA MATTHEWS (D.O.B. 5/4/84) of Dorchester was arraigned this afternoon in Dorchester Municipal Court. She was charged with murder in Sanchez’s Oct. 18, 2014, slaying and armed assault with intent to murder for stabbing another woman who survived.  At the request of Assistant District Attorney Lynn Feigenbaum, Judge Debra Shopteese ordered Matthews held without bail.

In the early morning hours of Oct. 18, Feigenbaum said, Maria Sanchez and a 37-year-old female family member were at an after-hours party on Washington Street in Dorchester.  Also present at the same party was another group that included the defendant. The two groups did not know each other.

At about 4:30 a.m., Feigenbaum told the court, Sanchez’ relative got into a verbal dispute with a member of Matthews’ group. That dispute soon escalated to include Sanchez and other members of Matthews’ group. When the party ended and those present made their way outside, the altercation became physical.

Outside the residence, Feigenbaum said, Matthews fought with Sanchez’ relative and stabbed her repeatedly in the torso. Those injuries were serious but not fatal. Matthews then walked over to Sanchez, who was fighting with another woman. While Sanchez was fighting, Matthews allegedly stabbed her multiple times in the back.

Matthews fled the scene. Sanchez was transported to Boston Medical Center, where she died of her injuries.

Matthews’ arrest this morning was the fourth such arrest this year for a Boston homicide committed in a prior year.

Timothy Munzert is the DA’s assigned victim-witness advocate.  Matthews was represented by Christopher Belezos.  She returns to court March 31.

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All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.