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U.S. NEWS Wednesday 27 February 2019

Mother and adult daughter charged with killing 5 relatives

MORRISVILLE, Pa. (AP) — had been turned over, dry-
A mother and her adult wall was cracked and glass
daughter killed five of their lay around. Police initially
close relatives, including said they found four bod-
three children, and were ies, but they discovered a
found "disoriented" after fifth underneath another
child welfare authorities that was next to a bed.
arrived for a surprise visit The mother and daughter
to their trashed apartment were taken to a hospital
outside Philadelphia, po- and at first told authorities
lice and prosecutors said they didn't know what hap-
Tuesday. pened.
Shana Decree, 45, and Before telling authorities
her daughter Dominique about their involvement in
Decree, 19, were charged the slayings, Shana Decree
with five counts of homi- said her sister Jamilla's boy-
cide and one count each friend and two unknown
of conspiracy. The motive men killed the five fam-
and how the five family ily members but left Shana
members died are unclear; and Dominique alive, ac-
their bodies were found cording to an affidavit.
Monday night. Shana Decree then told
"As confusing as it was last police that "everyone at
night, we are no closer to the apartment ... wanted These photos provided by the Bucks County District Attorney's Office on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019,
understanding that in the to die" and talked about shows Shana Decree, left, and her teenage daughter Dominique Decree.
harsh light of day," Bucks suicide, according to court Associated Press
County District Attorney documents. She said that
Matthew Weintraub said she killed one of the victims, teen is not a suspect, say-
at a news conference that she and her daughter ing authorities just wanted
Tuesday. "We will continue Dominque killed another to make sure he was safe.
to pursue every lead and together, and that Camp- The apartments are in Mor-
to work this case to its just bell killed two other victims risville, which sits on the
conclusion." before she herself was slain Delaware River northeast
The victims were Shana's by Dominique. of Philadelphia and across
children, Naa'Irah Smith, Shana Decree was ar- from Trenton, New Jersey.
25, and Damon Decree Jr., raigned early Tuesday, The three-story, red-brick
13, both of Morrisville; Sha- while Dominique Decree apartment complex is on
na Decree's sister Jamilla was arraigned in the after- a busy road lined with auto
Campbell, of Trenton, New noon. It isn't clear whether repair shops, a safe-and-
Jersey; and Campbell's either woman has a lawyer lock shop and a bail bonds
9-year-old twin daughters, to speak for her. Court pa- agency nearby.
Imani and Erika Allen. pers show they have not re- Thai Hall, 24, of Bristol, Penn-
Authorities discovered the quested a public defender, sylvania, said she attended
scene after a Bucks Coun- and no attorney informa- Morrisville High School with
ty child welfare officer ar- tion is listed. Smith and spoke with her
rived Monday evening for Authorities who had been about three months ago.
an unannounced visit and looking for Campbell's Hall, whose mother lives in
was let into the building by 17-year-old son Joshua a neighboring apartment,
someone who works there, found him not far away said Smith was attending
according to court papers. in Willingboro, New Jer- cosmetology school. She
Police say they found Sha- sey, where he was staying remembered Smith warmly.
na and Dominique Decree with friends, Police Chief "She was a happy person,
"disoriented" inside the George McClay said. happy person and cared
apartment, where furniture Weintraub stressed the for people," Hall said.q