Teen murder suspect appears in court

(7/18/06 - KTRK/RICHMOND, TX) (KTRK) -- A Sugar Land teenager who told investigators that he killed a classmate out 'morbid curiosity' appeared before a judge Tuesday morning.

Tuesday morning's hearing lasted only a few minutes. As it stands right now, this murder charge includes a maximum penalty of life in prison. But prosecutors could possibly be seeking a capital murder charge. Matthew McCombs said nothing during the hearing as Judge Kennedy set bond at $1 million.

Officials say McCombs will remain in the general jail population, not isolated, and will be treated like any other prisoner.

He's accused in the shooting death of fellow Clements High School student Ashton Glover, whose body was found in a Missouri City field a week ago.

McCombs was brought back to Texas on Monday after being arrested last week trying to enter Canada from Port Huron, Mich. A second suspect, Sean H. Brown, 18, has asked for a formal extradition hearing and remains jailed in Michigan on $5 million bail.

McComb's attorney, Ira Chenkin, spoke with his client for about an hour Monday.

"He's devastated about this. And he's really sorry for what's happened in this case," said Chenkin. "This county hasn't had this type of publicity on a case for quite a while. Right now, I don't know if he'll be able to get a fair trial. But that's something that we'll have to look at down the road."

As for Brown, he's fighting his extradition from Michigan. He's still in jail on a $5 million bond and waiting for his hearing on August 11.

Disturbing details released

Disturbing details were released Monday afternoon, detailing the sequence of events that took place in the hours after Ashton was killed. Fort Bend County Sheriff's investigators tell Eyewitness News that 18-year-old Matthew McCombs is very forthcoming with information.

McCombs was extradited back to Texas from Michigan, arriving Monday afternoon. Investigators say McCombs made statements implicating himself and Sean Brown in the murder of Ashton.

Investigators say McCombs told them he is the one who pulled the trigger and shot Ashton in the head. According to authorities, the incident happened Friday, July 7, in the field where Ashton's body was found three days later on July 10.

Sheriff Milton Wright says after the shooting, the boys left Ashton's body in the field, went and ate breakfast at a local IHOP. They then returned to the scene, moved her truck and buried her.

"The motive given, when directly asked, 'Why did you do that?' His statement was, 'Morbid curiosity,'" said Sheriff Wright.

Ashton's mother Sue Wright said, "I just know that justice will be served."

Authorities did recover the gun that they say was used in the shooting.
(Copyright © 2006, KTRK-TV)

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