Murder-Suicide Pact Behind 5 Bucks Co. Slayings, Mom Tells Police

MORRISVILLE, PA — A woman who is charged with killing five of her family members in a Bucks County apartment allegedly told investigators the family — including three children — "wanted to die."

Authorities have charged Shana Selena Decree, 45, and her daughter, Dominique Klaran Decree, 19, with five counts of criminal homicide in connection with the deaths after the victims were discovered in a bedroom in a Morrisville apartment complex on Monday.

More details on the disturbing case were laid out in an affidavit of probable cause released Tuesday morning by the Bucks County District Attorney's office.

Police made the gruesome discovery shortly after 4 p.m. Monday, after a caseworker with the Bucks County Children and Youth arrived at unit S-7 of the Robert Morris Apartments for an unannounced visit. When no one answered the door, the caseworker notified a maintenance worker, who accessed the apartment.

Police were immediately called to the scene, and Morrisville Borough police officers located the bodies together in a bedroom.

The victims have been identified as Shana Decree’s children, Naa’Irah Smith, 25, and Damon Decree Jr., 13, both of Morrisville; as well as Shana Decree’s sister Jamilla Campbell, 42, of Trenton, NJ, and Campbell’s 9-year-old twin daughters, Imani and Erika Allen.

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It was not immediately clear how long the victims had been deceased when they were discovered.

Police also located two women, later identified as Shana and Dominique Decree, in a bed. The women were "disoriented" and the apartment was in disarray, investigators said. Furniture was turned over and there was broken glass and clutter throughout the apartment, according to the affidavit.

Emergency squads were dispatched, and Decree and her daughter were transported to the hospital.

In the hospital, Dominique Decree, who had injuries to her neck, at first denied knowing how their family members had died. She repeatedly told investigators she also wanted to die, the affidavit said.

Shana, in a separate exam room, also at first denied knowing what happened, then later claimed her daughter's boyfriend and two others killed the family, the affidavit said. But she soon changed her story, telling police that everyone in the apartment, including the children, had been talking about suicide and "wanted to die."

Both women explained to police who killed who, the affidavit says. The cause of death for all the victims was not revealed, but at least one was choked, Dominique Decree told investigators, according to the affidavit.

In addition to the charges of criminal homicide, Decree and her daughter are also facing one count of conspiracy to commit criminal homicide.

Shana Decree was arraigned early Tuesday morning. She was denied bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 3, court documents show.

Dominique Decree is expected to be arraigned later Tuesday.

Campbell's son, whose whereabouts were initially unknown Monday evening, has been located and is safe, the DA's office said.

Morrisville Borough Police and Bucks County Detectives continue the investigation.