Booking photo for Shawn Andrews (Courtesy: Cache County Jail).
LOGAN — A 28-year-old man has been charged with murder as police allege the former Logan man admitted to stabbing his mother with a knife. Shawn R. Andrews is being held in the Cache County Jail without bail after prosecutors told a judge that he posses a threat to the community.
Andrews was arraigned in 1st District Court Monday afternoon, appearing by video from jail. He was charged with murder, a first-degree felony; and three counts of obstruction of justice, a third-degree felony.
Arraignment occurred as police officers released more information on what they believe happened to Debra Andrews. The 60-year-old North Logan woman was found by a neighbor, stabbed at the North Pointe Apartments Saturday afternoon.
According to a probable cause affidavit, officers found Debra Andrews lying on the floor, just inside the front door of her apartment around 3:50 p.m. A cellphone and set of dentures were near her head. An empty bottle of alcohol was on a coffee table nearby.
The victim’s son, Herbert Andrews told officers that he was sleeping in another room when when he heard a thump and came out to find his mother was stabbed. He also claimed that his brother Shawn Andrews had been in the apartment earlier with some friends.
Several neighbors reported seeing a man matching Shawn Andrews’ description running from the apartment complex at the time the alleged murder occurred. He was carrying a black backpack and had something wrapped around his arm.
Security camera footage showed Shawn Andrews run toward the North Logan Walmart, discarding items several times. He went into a restroom for a short time and then left the store.
Police later arrested Shawn Andrews and located the black discarded backpack that had blood and a knife inside.
Shawn Andrews originally told officers he left the apartment early Saturday morning and was looking for his brother. He later changed his story several times before admitting to killing his mother and discarding the backpack. He also gave several different explanations for why he committed the crime.
During Monday’s arraignment, Cache County Chief Deputy Spencer Walsh asked the court to hold Shawn Andrew without bail. He said the suspect posses a public safety risk.
Judge Angela Fonnesbeck agreed. She ordered Shawn Andrews to be held on a no bail status. She also assigned him a public defender and ordered him to appear again in court December 2.
will@cvradio.com