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Idaho Mom Faces Death Penalty Over Toddler Deaths
22 Oct
Summary
- Prosecutor seeks death penalty for woman accused of smothering twins.
- Autopsy results suggest suffocation as the cause of death.
- Defense claims grand jury was misled and seeks indictment dismissal.
In Idaho, a prosecutor is pursuing the death penalty for Andrea Shaw, 23, charged with the 2025 murders of her 18-month-old twin children. Shaw has pleaded not guilty, attributing the toddlers' deaths to flu shots and routine vaccinations.
Payette County Prosecutor Mike Duke stated that an autopsy revealed symptoms consistent with smothering. Shaw was indicted on two counts of first-degree murder by a grand jury. The state intends to argue four aggravating factors warrant capital punishment.
Shaw's attorney, Joseph Filicetti, denounced the prosecution's move as "outrageous." He is requesting the court dismiss the indictment, alleging the grand jury was not informed about the coroner and pathologists finding undetermined causes of death, potentially linked to hyperthermia.
The twins were discovered deceased in their shared bed on May 1, 2025, eight days after receiving vaccinations. Shaw had previously sought emergency care for the lethargic, feverish children, with a doctor suggesting a vaccination reaction. The prosecutor's office noted the room's high temperatures but argued the children had previously tolerated such conditions. Shaw is currently held without bond, with a trial scheduled for January.
