Mother and Daughter Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murder of Five Relatives

Strategic Insights -

A Pennsylvania woman, Shana Decree, and her daughter, Dominique Decree, are expected to spend the rest of their lives in prison after pleading guilty to killing five of their relatives. The women, both of whom were found to be "disoriented" when police arrived at their apartment, had killed two of Shana's children, her sister, and her 9-year-old twin nieces in an apartment they shared in Morrisville, Pennsylvania. In a surprising twist, the women avoided the death penalty as part of a plea deal, instead receiving five consecutive life sentences.

Key Takeaways:

  • Shana Decree, 47, and her daughter Dominique Decree, 21, pleaded guilty but mentally ill to five counts of first-degree murder and one count of criminal conspiracy.
  • The women killed five relatives, including two of Shana's children, Damon Decree Jr., 13, and Naa'Irah Smith, 25, her sister Jamilla Campbell, 42, and her 9-year-old twin nieces Imani and Erika Allen.
  • The murders took place between February 23 and 25 in an apartment shared by the seven family members in Morrisville, Pennsylvania.
  • Dominique's lawyer, John Fioravanti Jr., described the case as "troubling" and stated that it was one of the hardest cases he had ever dealt with.
  • The women were found to be "disoriented" when police arrived at their apartment, and autopsies determined that the victims were killed through homicidal asphyxia and ligature strangulation.
  • District Attorney Matt Weintraub stated that the women would have faced the death penalty if they were not suffering from severe mental illness.

Statistics:

  • The women will serve five consecutive life sentences, avoiding the death penalty.
  • Five family members died in the murders, including two children, a sister, and two young nieces.
  • The investigation found that the women told investigators that all five victims, including the children, wanted to die.
  • Autopsies determined that the victims were killed through various methods, including homicidal asphyxia and ligature strangulation.
  • The women were found to be "disoriented" when police arrived at their apartment, and were taken to the hospital.

Sources:

  • Buck's County District Attorney's office.
  • CNN.
  • Probable cause affidavit (exact wording not provided).
  • Interview with Dominique's lawyer, John Fioravanti Jr.
  • Interview with District Attorney Matt Weintraub.