FAMILY KILLERS
Woman and her daughter accused of killing five relatives, claims ‘everyone wanted to die’ >>
DOYLESTOWN, PA >> A mother and daughter charged in the murder of five family members, including three children, “confessed” to being involved in what appears to be a startling mass-murder suicide pact, police said.
Shana Decree, 45, and Dominique Decree, 19, both of Morrisville, each faces five counts of murder and a single count of criminal conspiracy after police responded Monday evening to the Robert Morris Apartment complex on the 200 block of West Bridge Street.
“Shana advised that all, including the children, were talking about suicide,” Bucks county detectives outlined in a criminal complaint.
Police wrote in the complaint the mother-daughter duo, who were initially transported to the hospital, at first tried to pin the crime on one of the victims’ boyfriends and two “unknown” men.
But they quickly changed tunes, admitting they were responsible for the slayings that Morrisville Police Chief George McClay has called “the worst homicide we’ve ever had.”
The borough didn’t have a single murder last year, the police chief said.
“This is probably one of the worst homicides in the history of Bucks County,” McClay said. “As much as I’ve seen in my career, this is the saddest scene I’ve ever had.”
Killed in the grisly murder were Shana’s children, Naa’Irah Smith, 25, and Damon Decree Jr., 13, both of Morrisville, Shana Decree’s sister Jamilla Campbell, 42, along with Campbell’s 9-year-old twin daughters Imani and Erika Allen.
Bucks County District Attorney Matt Weintraub said at a news conference Tuesday afternoon that investigators were “working on some theories” on the possible motive.
“I am sure you are going to ask me why this has occurred and what the motivation is,” he said. “As confusing as it was last night, we are no closer to understanding that in the harsh light of day. We will continue to pursue every lead and work this case to a just conclusion.”
There was no suicide note left, authorities said.
Asked about the possible murder-pact angle, the DA said, “I can certainly comment on the murder aspect of that because we know that was accomplished, tragically. As far as what the two defendants contemplated themselves, that would be purely speculation at this point. That is a potentiality, though.”
Shana Decree was arraigned early Tuesday morning and held without bail.
Her daughter was arraigned Tuesday afternoon, once she finished receiving treatment.
Also on Tuesday morning, authorities seized and towed two vehicles believed to belong to the mother and daughter from the apartment complex.
Police vehicles surrounded the taped-off crime scene, which was overflowing with reporters as neighbors looked on from the surrounding streets.
Thai Hall, 24, attended Morrisville High School with Smith, who graduated in 2012. They took a biology class together.
Smith was into makeup and modeling and had recently gotten engaged, Hall said, remembering she called her to congratulate her on the announcement.
“Such a pleasant lady. She was just so sweet. No harm to anybody,” Hall said. “Just wanted to live her life and be successful. It broke my heart. I was up all night praying.
Smith worked as an after-school counselor at the Morrisville YMCA, Hall said, adding her 8-yearold sister “loved [Smith] to death, talked about her all the time. I love Miss Naa’I. Miss Naa’I does this for me. Me and Miss Naa’I did this.’”
And some of the motherdaughter duo’s online postings pointed to happier times, before the victims were discovered in a bedroom of the apartment.
In a Facebook post in February 2017, Dominique Decree wished her sister, Smith, a happy birthday, calling her “my rod, my best friend and all that good stuff.”
Her selfie-filled page also featured pictures of her mugging with her mother, now her alleged accomplice and jailmate, including one with the message “I love mom” imposed over the photo.
The “atrocious, atrocious” killings cut the DA deep.
“I wish I didn’t have to report this and we didn’t have to deal with it,” said Weintraub, who at one point paused to collect himself while speaking to reporters inside the Bucks County Justice Center. “But we’re sworn to do it so we do, and we will. We’ll do our best to get justice for those girls and the other three victims.”
In a bit of good news, authorities who were searching late Monday night for Campbell’s 17-year-old son, Joshua, found him safe in Willingboro, New Jersey.
He had run away, McClay said, and was living with friends.
Investigators stressed he is not a suspect but detectives still want to talk to him to see what he knew about the family’s home life.
Eight people were living in the “tiny” apartment, Weintraub said, which is just across the bridge from Trenton.
And the Bucks County Department of Human Services was involved with the family, but Weintraub wasn’t sure the reasons.
A Human Services spokesman declined to comment, citing the ongoing investigation.
McClay said his department had been to the family’s apartment a couple times for minor disturbances.
The scene was decidedly morbid when authorities responded to the apartment complex Monday afternoon after being called there by a maintenance worker who had conducted a welfare check and discovered two “disoriented” women inside what appeared to be a ransacked apartment.
A child welfare worker had visited the home over the weekend and left a business card on the front door after no one answered.
A case worker returned to the home Monday and asked the maintenance worker to do a welfare check on the family when she was unable to get in touch with anybody.
The apartment was in “disarray” when cops arrived. Furniture was turned over, TVs and mirrors were smashed, and there were broken glasses and clutter scattered throughout.
The case worker told authorities the place didn’t look like that during her Feb. 5 visit.
McClay said the destruction in the apartment may have been intentionally staged.
“Everything was broken up for a reason,” he said. “We just don’t know
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