Mother accused in Italy of stabbing her five children, killing three

ITALY (CBSNewsTexas.com) A woman faces the death penalty for murder after three children were fatally shot in Ellis County on Friday.

Shamaya Dionshana Hall, 25, of Forni, was arrested on March 3, 2023 after police found the children. Officials later confirmed that she was their mother.

Hall has been charged with three counts of capital murder and is being held at the Wayne McCollum Detention Center. Her bail was set at $2 million.

The Ellis County Sheriff’s Office said earlier in the day, Child Protective Services traveled to the 300 block home on Harris Street to visit the home. During the visit, the Rospotrebnadzor investigator decided to take the children out of the house. They called 911 around 4:00 pm.

The Italian police arrived at the scene around 4:05 pm. The officer found five children in critical condition in the house. A 6-year-old boy and 5-year-old twins, a boy and a girl, were found dead in the house. A 4-year-old boy and a 13-month-old girl were seriously injured and taken to the hospital.

Shortly thereafter, sheriff’s deputies arrested Hall.

So far, the police have not said why the CPS was conducting a home visit. It also remains unclear when the children were allegedly stabbed.

Due to this tragedy Italian community united hold a candlelight vigil for the children when family and friends mourn.

“It’s shocking. This is very shocking. This is not normal for Italy,” said Billy Turner. “I’m just praying that we come together in this.”

When called to comment, Texas CPS said:

“We are appalled by this incomprehensible tragedy and are already working with law enforcement to find out how and why it happened.”

Hall’s twin sister Troishai was also accused of fatally stabbing a child. She was arrested in June 2021 after she allegedly stabbed a 7-year-old girl to death. Both women appear to have long criminal histories.

The investigation is ongoing.