WASHINGTON CITY, Utah (TCN) — Prosecutors charged two juveniles, including the victim’s daughter, on suspicion of fatally stabbing a woman at a vacation rental and fleeing to Los Angeles County last month.
According to a probable cause affidavit posted by the Washington County Attorney’s Office, on March 23, Washington City Police responded to a home after cleaning staff employed by VRBO found an unresponsive person. Officers entered the residence and located 47-year-old Andreea Mottram deceased with 14 stab wounds. Police also reportedly discovered two cellphones and a purse in a toilet.
According to the affidavit, two juveniles were staying at the vacation rental home with Mottram. Authorities later identified them as the victim’s 16-year-old daughter, Mihaela “Bella” Gabriala Sorescu, and 17-year-old Abigael “Jay” Paige Flanagan.
Investigators believe the phones in the toilet belong to Sorescu and Flanagan, and the purse contained Mottram’s ID. The affidavit alleges the items were placed in the toilet in an attempt to flush and conceal evidence.
The victim’s daughter was reportedly in a residential treatment facility for the past three years and is currently enrolled in a Washington County residential treatment facility. Flanagan was allegedly in a residential treatment facility for at least a year, but her parents recently took her out.
According to the affidavit, an individual referred to as Frank said that in November, he located a diary allegedly written by Sorescu. Frank reportedly said that in the diary, “She had indicated how much she hated her mother and wrote that she wanted to kill her.” Frank also said that Sorescu “will often cut herself with sharp objects” and “has a history of violent behavior.”
Authorities recovered several knives in the home, including one in the sink that had been washed but still contained trace amounts of blood.
The probable cause affidavit says evidence technicians found a pair of pants that had several spots of apparent blood, including a bloody imprint of a knife blade on the left leg. Investigators believe the pants belong to Sorescu.
Authorities identified the juveniles as suspects in Mottram’s stabbing death and believe they stole her rental vehicle to flee. On March 26, Washington City Police posted a bulletin seeking the public’s help in finding Sorescu and Flanagan. In an updated release posted the following day, police said Sorescu and Flanagan were located in Los Angeles County.
On April 4, the attorney’s office announced that they charged Sorescu and Flanagan each with one count of first-degree murder, obstruction of justice, and theft of a motor vehicle. Prosecutors noted that in Utah, when a 16- or 17-year-old is charged with murder, they’re charged as an adult in district court.
