An Idaho mother who said her toddler twins died after routine vaccinations now faces murder charges in their deaths. Prosecutors allege Andrea Shaw, 23, suffocated her 18-month-old twins in May 2025.
A Payette County grand jury indicted Shaw on two counts of first-degree murder on June 29, according to court records and police. Shaw has denied the allegations through her attorney.
Idaho Mother Murder Charges Follow Yearlong Investigation
Payette police were called to a home in May 2025 after reports that Shaw’s twins had died. The children were found dead in a shared bed, according to local reports.
Authorities investigated the deaths for more than a year. Boise police arrested Shaw on June 30, and she was later arraigned in Payette County.
Shaw is being held on a $2 million bond. If convicted of first-degree murder, she could face life in prison or the death penalty under Idaho law.
Her next court appearance is scheduled for July 14.
Prosecutors Allege Suffocation
The indictment accuses Shaw of suffocating the twins. Prosecutors have not publicly released every detail of the evidence in the case.
The Payette Police Department and the Payette County prosecutor’s office declined to comment to the Associated Press, citing the ongoing case.
Shaw’s attorney, Joe Filicetti, told the AP that Shaw “denies anything and everything.” He also said the state cannot prove the charges.
The allegations remain accusations at this stage. Shaw is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Vaccine Claims Drew National Attention
Before the charges, Shaw publicly claimed her children died after receiving vaccinations. She made the claim during a May 2025 appearance on an internet show produced by Children’s Health Defense.
Children’s Health Defense is an anti-vaccine organization founded by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Kennedy formally left the group in December 2024 before joining President Donald Trump’s administration as Health and Human Services secretary.
During the appearance, Shaw said the twins became sick after receiving shots. The vaccines discussed in reports included hepatitis A, influenza and DTaP, which protects against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis.
Medical groups recommend those vaccines for children. Medical experts cited by the AP said the vaccines are safe and effective.
Lawsuit Against Pediatric Group
Shaw is also listed as a plaintiff in a federal lawsuit filed by Children’s Health Defense and others against the American Academy of Pediatrics.
The lawsuit accuses the academy of misleading families about childhood vaccine safety. In court filings, the American Academy of Pediatrics has asked for the lawsuit to be dismissed.
The academy said the case is part of a broader campaign targeting its science-based vaccine policy. The lawsuit remains separate from the Idaho criminal case.
No court has ruled that vaccines caused the twins’ deaths.
Case Moves Through Court
The case now moves into the next stage of criminal proceedings in Payette County. Prosecutors will need to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.
The deaths have drawn attention because of the earlier vaccine claims and the later murder indictment. For now, the central issue before the court is whether prosecutors can support the allegation that Shaw killed her children.