Bio

Charles Lee Mathenia was born on September 14, 1958, in the United States. He later lived in rural Missouri, where he spent much of his adult life. By 1984, he was 25 years old.

For about seven years, Mathenia lived with Daisy Nash, an elderly woman who later became one of his victims. This long-term living arrangement placed him in regular contact with Nash and her sister, Louanna Bailey.

Court records also showed that Mathenia had relatives living nearby, including a sister and step-sister. Family members later became witnesses during the investigation and trial.

During later legal proceedings, psychologists described Mathenia as mildly intellectually impaired, with an IQ of around 70. This was presented during sentencing but did not prevent his prosecution or conviction.

In 1983, Louanna Bailey accused Mathenia of rape, and charges were filed later that year. She later withdrew the complaint in February 1984. Prosecutors said Mathenia remained angry over his arrest and blamed the two sisters for his legal problems. Murder Story

In the early morning of April 24, 1984, Charles Mathenia returned to the Missouri home he shared with 72-year-old Daisy Nash. An argument began shortly after he arrived and quickly turned violent. Mathenia struck Nash, knocked her to the floor, then armed himself with a butcher knife and stabbed her multiple times, killing her inside the home.

After the attack, he rode a bicycle to the nearby house of Louanna Bailey, Nash’s 70-year-old sister. Bailey had previously accused him of rape. According to trial evidence, Mathenia told her he had killed Daisy Nash. While Bailey tried to call for help, he took a knife from the kitchen.

When Bailey attempted to escape, Mathenia stabbed her in the back, causing fatal injuries. Prosecutors said the killings were driven by anger over his earlier arrest and by a desire for revenge.

Mathenia was arrested the next day, April 25, 1984. He later gave a videotaped confession describing both murders. After a change of venue, he was tried in Jefferson County, Missouri, where a jury found him guilty of two counts of capital murder.

On January 9, 1985, Charles Mathenia was sentenced to death. His conviction and sentence were later upheld through multiple appeals in state and federal courts.

Murder Story

In the early morning of April 24, 1984, Charles Mathenia returned to the Missouri home he shared with 72-year-old Daisy Nash. An argument began shortly after he arrived and quickly turned violent. Mathenia struck Nash, knocked her to the floor, then armed himself with a butcher knife and stabbed her multiple times, killing her inside the home.

After the attack, he rode a bicycle to the nearby house of Louanna Bailey, Nash’s 70-year-old sister. Bailey had previously accused him of rape. According to trial evidence, Mathenia told her he had killed Daisy Nash. While Bailey tried to call for help, he took a knife from the kitchen.

When Bailey attempted to escape, Mathenia stabbed her in the back, causing fatal injuries. Prosecutors said the killings were driven by anger over his earlier arrest and by a desire for revenge.

Mathenia was arrested the next day, April 25, 1984. He later gave a videotaped confession describing both murders. After a change of venue, he was tried in Jefferson County, Missouri, where a jury found him guilty of two counts of capital murder.

On January 9, 1985, Charles Mathenia was sentenced to death. His conviction and sentence were later upheld through multiple appeals in state and federal courts.