Man gets life after admitting he killed a mother of six daughters, two of them his

A Suffolk Superior Court judge yesterday sentenced a man to life in prison after he admitted he killed Terkeshia Boykins, 40, by repeatedly stabbing her in her Mattapan bedroom in 2022, the Suffolk County District Attorney's office reports.

Because he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, Christopher Howard, 42, will be eligible to apply for parole in 20 years. He had been scheduled for trial later this month, the DA's office says.

The DA's office provided this account of what happened inside her Rosewood Street apartment:

Shortly before 9:40 p.m. on May 10, Howard, was inside a bedroom with Boykins in her Mattapan apartment. Upon hearing commotion in the room, witnesses opened the bedroom door and observed Howard on top of the victim, stabbing her with a knife. Howard fled the apartment and the state. He was apprehended more than 1,000 miles away in Jacksonville, Florida, on May 17.

Four of Boykins's six daughters submitted victim impact statements:

“My mom was one of the most generous people that I had the blessing to call my mother, she was the most loving and caring person who would put anybody above herself no matter what, even if that means giving her last. She is the reason I am who I am today, and I miss her every day,” daughter age 18.

“She was the kindest person I’ve ever known, and she had the biggest heart I’ve ever seen. You must have a big heart to spread your love amongst six children without anyone feeling left out. She made each one of us feel special in our own way,” daughter age 25.

"My mother was a woman of courage and compassion, and also independent. But she had 6 different versions of her and we will live for ourselves and for her,” daughter age 23.
“It’s unfair that my sisters and I had to lose our loving, kind, caring and heartwarming mother at a young age. I pray that my mom gets justice and that she continues to watch over all of us every day. I miss her more than words can explain,” daughter age 16.