Idaho woman indicted on two counts of murder for killing her twin toddlers

Andrea Shaw, 23, of Payette, Idaho, has been indicted on two first-degree murder charges for allegedly suffocating her 18-month-old twins. She faces a potential death penalty.

Payette woman indicted for suffocating twin toddlers aged 18 months

Google News MT — Crime (en) reports that an indictment has been released in the case against Andrea Shaw, a 23-year-old woman formerly of Payette, Idaho, charged with the murders of her 18-month-old twin children.

The Payette Police Department announced Shaw faces two counts of First Degree Murder in connection with the deaths. She was arrested by Boise Police on 30 June.

The indictment accuses Shaw of suffocating both twins to death. The first-degree murder charges mean prosecutors are alleging she acted deliberately, with premeditation and malice aforethought. As a result, Shaw is eligible for the death penalty, though the prosecution has not yet announced whether it intends to seek it.

A motion filed by Shaw's defence team to reduce her bond from $2 million to $100,000 describes her as someone who has lived in Payette and/or Boise since 2015, where she worked as a life coach for her brother's business. "Andrea is sweet and quiet. She keeps to herself. She is not a threat to anyone," the motion states.

Defence attorney Joe Fillicetti characterised the prosecution's case as circumstantial. "The Defence has a phalanx of expert testimony that will dispute the State's allegations," Fillicetti said, adding that Shaw is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The defence further noted that Shaw gave birth prematurely before her arrest and argued that a nurse expert witness could testify to the risks she faces in being unable to breastfeed her newborn. On the bond reduction, the defence argued: "If Andrea was going to run, she would have done so long ago. Otherwise, this bond is merely punitive."

Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)