Decatur Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Connection to Pregnant Woman's Murder Burglary Case

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In the heart of Decatur, Illinois, a courtroom has brought closure to a tragic case that has lingered for two years. The last of three defendants involved in the murder of a pregnant woman has been sentenced, marking a significant turn in this harrowing saga. Mattavius Anderson, now 21, accepted a plea deal that culminated in a 15-year prison sentence.

This week, Anderson appeared in Macon County Court for what was expected to be the start of his trial. Initially, he had waived his right to a jury trial, opting instead for a bench trial scheduled for Tuesday. However, developments over the weekend altered this course. On October 16th, both the defense and prosecution informed Judge Thomas Griffith of a plea agreement, leading to the disposition hearing held on Monday.

Under the terms of the plea deal, all nine charges initially filed against Anderson, which included serious accusations such as murder and aggravated discharge of a firearm, were dismissed. Instead, he faced a new charge of residential burglary, to which he pleaded guilty. This strategic legal move concluded the judicial proceedings against him.

The case’s tragic roots trace back to a fatal incident on March 8, 2023. According to a sworn statement by the Decatur Police, a volatile dispute on social media platform Snapchat escalated into violence. This conflict involved Anderson, then 18 years old, alongside his younger brother Mattarion, and was directed against Janiah Thomas’s boyfriend and his sibling. The confrontation led to the fatal shooting of 20-year-old Janiah Thomas, who was pregnant at the time.

The outcome of this case has been closely monitored, highlighting ongoing concerns about youth violence and the impact of social media disputes spiraling out of control. As the community in Decatur reflects on these events, local law enforcement continues to emphasize the importance of addressing these issues head-on, urging for proactive measures to prevent such tragedies from recurring.

Thomas and his brother lived in a home near the intersection of Woodford Street and Grand Avenue. The night of March 8, the Andersons arrived at the home in retribution for the dispute, accompanied by a third person — 17-year-old Tarlan Mackey. A witness reported to police that she believed Mattarion was armed due to the way he was holding his hand in his coat.

At the same time, Thomas was inside the home with her two children, ages four and two. She was also 26 weeks pregnant with a third child, and the witness said she was sitting on the couch when her boyfriend and his brother went outside to confront the Andersons.

A short time later, shots were fired and bullets went flying into the home. The witness said Thomas tried to protect her daughter by grabbing her and dropping to the floor, but both of them were shot. Thomas was fatally wounded, and her unborn baby died with her. Her daughter was shot in the face; while the four-year-old girl survived, she lost her right eye.

Thomas’ son was not hurt.

The Andersons and Mackey were quickly identified as suspects in the shooting. Decatur Police said the witnesses in the home were all familiar with them, and the Andersons’ younger brother, who was uninvolved in the shooting, even offered an apology by text to the brother of Thomas’ boyfriend.

All three were arrested within a week of the shooting, and all three have been convicted of one crime or another in connection to the shooting.

Mattarion Anderson was the only defendant whose case went to trial. Trying Mattarion from the bench in April, Judge Griffith found him guilty of first-degree murder and intentional homicide of an unborn child. Mattarion was later sentenced to 40 years behind bars.

Tarlan Mackey took a plea deal the same month as Mattarion’s trial. He pleaded guilty to residential burglary and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. That deal and sentence are almost identical to how Mattavius Anderson’s case ended.

Court records show that Mattavius received a 15-year sentence, with credit given for two-and-a-half years he spent in custody while awaiting trial. Mattavius is also day-for-day eligible, which would cut his sentence in half as long as he behaves while in prison.

WCIA has reached out to the Macon County State’s Attorney’s Office to learn more about the case and the evidence that led to Mattavius’ guilty plea for burglary. We have not heard back yet.