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WASHINGTON, Washington County — Two teenage girls whom police originally called "persons of interest" in the stabbing death of a 47-year-old woman in a southern Utah rental property now face adult criminal charges accusing them of killing her.
Police say one of the girls is Andreea Mottram's daughter.
Abigael Paige Flanagan, 17, who also goes by the name "Jay," and Mihaela Gabriela Sorescu, 16, who also goes by the name "Bella," have both been charged in 5th District Court with murder, a first-degree felony; plus obstruction of justice and theft, second-degree felonies.
The girls were originally only charged with obstruction of justice. Additional charges were filed under seal on March 24 and unsealed on Friday.
On March 23, Washington police were called to 1209 Bello Aly after a cleaning crew for the vacation rental property found Mottram deceased in an upstairs bedroom. Police say she was stabbed 14 times. There were no signs of forced entry into the residence. An investigation by the state medical examiner determined Mottram died at about 11 p.m. on March 22, according to charging documents.
Detectives also found two cellphones and a purse submerged in the toilet, the charges state. The investigation revealed that Sorescu — Mottram's daughter — and Flanagan had also been staying in the house. Charging documents say police soon determined the girls were "the primary suspects" in the killing.
The phones found in the toilet are believed to belong to the girls and the purse contained an identification card belonging to Mottram, according to the charges.
"These items appear to have been placed in the toilet and attempted to be flushed in an effort to conceal evidence and/or avoid apprehension," the charges allege.
Sorescu has been in a residential treatment program for the past three years; Flanagan has been in one for at least a year, according to investigators. A diary belonging to Sorescu was turned over to the police and in it was an entry in which she "indicated how much she hated her mother and wrote that she wanted to kill her," the charges say.
Investigators were also told Sorescu "has a history of violent behavior."
Detectives also recovered a pair of pants in the house believed to belong to Sorescu with blood on them, according to the court documents.
After stabbing Mottram, the girls took her rental car and drove to Bellflower, California, where the car was later found abandoned, according to police. Police located the girls in California on March 26 and took them into custody.
Tributes for Mottram have been posted all over social media. She was originally from Romania and is remembered for her advocacy work. She was honored on the American Romanian Coalition for Human and Equal Rights Facebook page, calling her a "fierce advocate" and a "compassionate leader."
"Andrea's dedication to justice, equity and human rights was not just a mission, it was the very essence of who she was," the group said.
Mottram's last Facebook post was on March 22 and was a selfie with the caption, "This is almost … 48."
