An Idaho mother said her toddlers died after routine vaccinations. Prosecutors say she murdered them

Seth Ratliff

Originally Published: 07 JUL 26 00:18 ET

Updated: 07 JUL 26 12:54 ET

By Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN

(CNN) — An Idaho mother who claimed her toddler twins died last year shortly after being vaccinated is now facing murder charges after prosecutors accused her of suffocating the children.

Andrea Shaw was charged with two counts of first-degree murder last week for the May 2025 deaths of her 18-month twins. If convicted, she could face life in prison or the death penalty.

Shaw’s attorney said the children’s deaths were the result of a medical issue, not a crime.

“She believes the cause of death to be the vaccine. She’s not a doctor. I’m not a doctor, but the doctors I’ve consulted say that it’s a vaccine-related death,” attorney, Joe Filicetti, told CNN affiliate KIVI.

Though medical authorities have long said that routine childhood vaccines are safe and effective, anti-vaccination groups — including one founded by the Health and Human Services secretary — have seized on the twins’ story in their efforts to challenge the acceptance of routine childhood vaccines recommended by medical authorities.

The Payette Police Department announced Shaw’s arrest last week. She is being held on a $2 million bond, court records show.

“She’s been in town for 14 months. She didn’t run. She’s not going anywhere. There’s absolutely no reason for $2 million bond in this case,” Filicetti told KIVI.

Shaw’s arrest was “the result of a lengthy and thorough investigation conducted by the Payette Police Department,” police said in a statement on Facebook. The department declined to make any additional comments about the facts or evidence of the case, only saying additional information will be provided as the judicial process proceeds.

Days after the death of her twins, Shaw and her husband, Nathaniel Shaw, appeared on an internet show produced by Children’s Health Defense, an anti-vaccine group founded by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Kennedy has not been affiliated with the group since December 2024 according to the Associated Press.

Anti-vaccination groups have seized on the twins’ story in their efforts to challenge the acceptance of routine childhood vaccines recommended by medical authorities.

Shaw said she did not previously hold anti-vaccine views. She described her twins, Dallas and Tyson, as being “normal, perfect, happy little babies,” the day before receiving their shots. The twins were born prematurely and spent 77 days in the NICU. Dallas loved “Strawberry Shortcake” and Tyson loved Lightning McQueen from the movie “Cars,” she said.

Shaw teared up as she spoke about the days after her children received routine medical vaccines for Hepatitis-A, diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis and the flu. She described finding her babies laying on their bellies in their crib, cold to the touch.

“They looked as if they had gone in their sleep; they were in their sleeping positions,” Shaw told the host of the program.

The twins’ father described police as being “disrespectful” and seeming to be suspicious upon their arrival.

“They constantly were trying to pin me and Andrea against each other, trying to get us to say, ‘Well, I think she did it,’ or ‘I think he did it,’” Nathaniel Shaw said during the May 2025 interview.

“It was just straight to interrogation: ‘We know one of you guys did it,’ without having any proof, without even having an autopsy done, and they were just very adamant that we had done it,” he added.

Andrea described her second day of police interrogation after the children had died.

“They said that it wasn’t medical and that they figured asphyxiation and that I had supposedly had a postpartum overwhelming blackout and done it to my children,” Andrea Shaw said. “It made me feel crazy.”

Shaw has joined Children’s Health Defense and others in a lawsuit accusing the American Academy of Pediatrics of racketeering for its role its “central role in an enterprise that has defrauded American families about the safety of the childhood vaccine schedule for several decades,” according to the Associated Press reporting.

The American Academy of Pediatrics said the lawsuit is part of a larger campaign targeting the institution and its “use of science-backed evidence in vaccine policy,” in a court filing, AP reported. The academy has asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit.

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Idaho Falls man killed in head-on crash east of Ririe, 5 injured

Curtis Jackson

RIRIE, Idaho (KIFI) – An Idaho Falls man was killed Monday evening in a head-on crash on U.S. Highway 26 east of Ririe, according to Idaho State Police.

The crash occurred at about 6:45 p.m. on July 6 near milepost 358. ISP said a 32-year-old Idaho Falls man was driving a 2010 Hyundai Accent westbound when the vehicle crossed into the eastbound lanes and collided head-on with a 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe.

The driver of the Hyundai died at the scene. The Bonneville County Coroner’s Office identified him as Valentin Armenta Algandar.

The Chevrolet was driven by a 49-year-old woman from Jackson, Wyoming, and carried four passengers: a 24-year-old man from Jackson, a 53-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman from Mexico, and a juvenile.

The 53-year-old passenger was airlifted to a local hospital with injuries. The remaining occupants of the Tahoe were taken by ground ambulance.

The highway was blocked for about 4½ hours while emergency crews investigated and cleared the scene.

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Tyler Robinson returns to Utah court for Day 2 of preliminary hearing

News Team

PROVO, Utah (KIFI) — Tyler Robinson, 23, is scheduled to return to a Utah courtroom today as a multi-day preliminary hearing continues to determine if he will stand trial for the murder of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk.

Watch the full court proceedings in the video player above.

On Monday, Robinson sat before Utah Judge Tony Graf as Kirk’s parents and his widow, Erika Kirk, watched from the gallery. According to CNN, the appearance marks the first time the family has been in the same room as Robinson since his arrest last year.

Over the next week, Judge Graf will evaluate the evidence presented by the state to decide if prosecutors have established enough probable cause to bring the case to a full criminal trial.

The hearing comes nearly 10 months after the fatal September 2025 shooting that claimed the life of the 31-year-old co-founder of Turning Point USA while at a speaking event at Utah Valley University.

RELATED: Police officer describes shooting of Charlie Kirk as prosecutors start presenting evidence in case of accused killer

On Monday, prosecutors began outlining their case by calling their first witness, Christopher Bagley, a former senior officer with the UVU Police Department. Bagley recounted the immediate aftermath of the shooting.

“I asked dispatch to get on the camera system and to see if anybody was on top of the Losi building during the time of the incident,” Bagley testified. “People were screaming, standing up, and starting to run in all different directions away from the center of the tent.”

Robinson surrendered to police the day after the shooting. While he has not yet entered a formal plea, he faces multiple severe charges, including aggravated murder. Prosecutors have already signaled their intent to seek the death penalty if Robinson is convicted at trial.

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Beloved Idaho Falls doctor and community figure Dr. Derek Campbell passes away unexpectedly

News Team

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The Idaho Falls community is mourning the loss of a beloved local figure whose passion quite literally lit up the town every Independence Day.

Dr. Derek Campbell, a local medical instructor and family medicine doctor, died Friday, July 3rd, without warning.

Beyond his work as a doctor, Campbell was an alumnus of Idaho State University. He was also a teacher at the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center’s medical residency program. He had a profound impact on training the next generation of physicians. However, to those close to him, he was first and foremost a devoted husband and a loving father to his two daughters.

Dr. Campbell served as a bishop for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was well known throughout his community for his love of the 4th of July. For years, his spectacular fireworks shows brought neighbors together to create lasting memories, leaving behind a bright legacy that will not soon be forgotten.

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Four injured, one airlifted following two-vehicle rollover crash near Monteview

News Team

MONTEVIEW, Idaho (KIFI) — Four people were hospitalized Monday morning after a driver missed a stop sign, leading to a two-vehicle rollover crash near Monteview.

According to the Idaho State Police, the accident took place at approximately 11:40 a.m. on Monday, July 6, 2026, at the intersection of State Highway 28 and State Highway 22.

ISP reports that a 23-year-old Texas woman was driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee westbound on State Highway 22 when she failed to stop at a stop sign. At the same time, a 51-year-old Florida man driving a Jeep Gladiator was traveling eastbound on State Highway 28. The Gladiator struck the Grand Cherokee in the intersection, causing the Gladiator to roll over and come to rest on its passenger side.

While everyone invovled in the crash was wearing their seatbelts, emergency crews had to rush both drivers and their passengers to a local hospital. The driver of the Gladiator was taken by ground ambulance while his passenger, a 45-year-old Florida woman, was airlifted via air ambulance due to her injuries. The driver of the Grand Cherokee and her passenger, a 67-year-old man from Georgetown, Texas, were both taken by ground ambulance.

The crash blocked the eastbound lanes of State Highway 28 for around four hours while crews cleared the scene. The crash remains under investigation by ISP.

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Fourth advanced US reactor achieves criticality at INL, surpassing White House goal

Seth Ratliff

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Over the Independence Day weekend, another major nuclear milestone took place in Idaho. Aalo Atomics’ advanced reactor design, the Aalo-X, successfully completed a zero-power fueled criticality demonstration at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL).

The milestone officially surpasses the goal set by President Trump to have three advanced reactors achieve criticality before the United States’ 250th birthday.

“Congratulations to the entire Aalo Atomics team. Aalo-X is now the fourth criticality achieved this year, and the third at Idaho National Laboratory,” said INL Director John Wagner. “This is exactly what a nuclear renaissance looks like: American companies, moving at American speed, proving novel reactor designs, one after another.”

Energy Secretary Chris Wright echoed the praise, noting how impressed he was by Aalo’s determination during his tour of the INL facility last month.

“President Trump asked for three advanced reactors to be authorized and achieve criticality before the 250th anniversary of our great country,” Secretary Wright said. “I’m pleased to share that through the dedication and hard work of Aalo, INL, and DOE, we have surpassed that ask and delivered four!”

A Growing List of Successes

The Department of Energy states Aalo-X joins a rapidly growing list of successful advanced reactor designs, spotlighting the momentum behind participants in the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Reactor Pilot Program and the Nuclear Energy Launch Pad initiative. Just last month, three other reactors achieved criticality:

Antares Nuclear’s Mark-0

Valar Atomics’ Ward 250

Deployable Energy’s Unity

“The hardest problem in nuclear was never the physics; our country simply forgot how to build. The success of the Department of Energy Reactor Pilot Program is proof America can execute again,” said Yasir Arafat, President and CTO of Aalo Atomics. “We are proud to play a major role in America’s nuclear renaissance, going from breaking ground to a sustained chain reaction in just eight months—one of the fastest reactor builds in modern American history.”

For more information on the Reactor Pilot Program, click HERE.

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Evacuation order lifted for “Maze Fire:” More than 1,300 acres burned west of Rexburg

Seth Ratliff

UPDATE: 11:55 PM

The Maze Fire evacuation order has been lifted in Madison County for residences on the west side of 6000 W. from Hwy. 33 up to 4000 N, according to Sergeant Tyson Beckley, of Madison County Dispatch.

The fire had consumed approximately 1,300 acres as of 9:26 PM.

Fifteen to 40 residences were affected by the evacuation order, said Janelle Washington, of the American Red Cross.

Residents are asked to remain in the “Ready” stage of “Ready, Set, Go,” meaning they are prepared to evacuate if fire conditions change overnight.

UPDATE: 8:55 PM

The following update has been provided by the Madison Fire Department:

At 3:35 pm, Madison Fire Department responded to a report of a brush fire, located at 9029 W. Hwy. 33, west of Rexburg.

Upon arrival, fire crews found a rapidly growing brush fire that had originated at the Sportsmans Club Gun Range, and mutual aid from surrounding counties was immediately requested.

The fire has been named the Maze Fire and is being managed by unified command with Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Madison Fire Department (MFD). There are currently 20 wildland engines, 15 structure engines, 6 water tenders, 6 overhead (3 BLM, 3 MFD), 1 helicopter, 2 single engine air tankers, 2 large air tankers, and 2 bulldozers, with approximately 80 firefighters on scene. The fire is currently estimated to be 1,100 acres.

There is a current evacuation order in effect for residences on the west side of 6000 W. from Hwy. 33 up to 4000 N. A shelter has been established for those who have been evacuated and is located at the Henry’s Fork Stake Center, 1508 W. 3000 N. in Rexburg.

Containment is estimated for July 8th at 2200. There is no estimate yet for control of the fire within the containment lines. Please watch USWFS Idaho -Great Basin on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/USWFSGreatBasinIdaho/) for updated information.

“We very much appreciate our mutual aid partners from the surrounding counties and want to thank them for their quick response in helping attack this fast-moving fire,” said Chief Corey Child. “We also appreciate the cooperation of the public in continuing to avoid the area and for those in the evacuation area for following evacuation orders and all instructions from fire personnel and law enforcement.”

We ask that the public continue to avoid the area to allow firefighting personnel to have the full access they need to fight the fire, and to allow law enforcement personnel to enforce the evacuation orders and assist in controlling access to the perimeter of the fire. For those in the evacuation area, please continue to follow all evacuation instructions from fire personnel and law enforcement.

Please also remember that no drones should be near the fire. Firefighting aircraft may be forced to stop operations, delaying suppression efforts and putting lives and property at greater risk. If you fly, they can’t.

UPDATE: 8:30 PM

The “Maze Fire” has now grown to an estimated 1,100 acres per Wildcad.

UPDATE: 7:25 PM

The Madison County Sheriff’s Office has issued an immediate evacuation order for residents living in the following areas near Rexburg and Plano:

Who needs to evacuate: Anyone living on 6000 W from Hwy 33 north to 4000 North, extending up to the Plano townsite.

Action required: Leave the area immediately.

Evacuation Shelter: An emergency shelter has been established at the Henry’s Fork LDS Stake Center (1508 W 3000 N, Rexburg, ID).

“Do NOT wait. Leave the area now and follow all directions from law enforcement and fire personnel,” says MCSO.

UPDATE: 6:25 PM

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) — The Maze Fire west of Rexburg has grown to an estimated 900 acres, per WatchDuty.

If needed, an evacuation shelter has been established for families and residents who have been evacuated at the Henry’s Fork LDS Stake Center at 1508 W 3000 N, Rexburg, ID.

“If you have been displaced by the wildfire and need a safe place to go, the shelter is available to assist you,” said the Madison County Sheriff’s Office.

For the latest updates on evacuations, click HERE.

UPDATE: 6:15 PM

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) — A fast-moving wildfire west of Rexburg has rapidly expanded to an estimated 600 acres, prompting local authorities to issue initial evacuation warnings for nearby residents.

The Madison County Sheriff’s Office is on the scene assisting fire crews. The Unified Sportsmen’s Club gun range has been completely evacuated, and the area is strictly closed to everyone except authorized emergency personnel.

According to data from the WildCad interagency fire system, the “Maze Fire” broke out sometime before 4:00 p.m. near the Unified Sportsmen’s Club (Sportsman Gun Range) off West Highway 33.

The Madison County Sheriff’s Office has issued a READY Status (Level 1 Alert) as part of the Ready, Set, Go Evacuation alert program for residents on 6000 W who are North of West Hwy 33 in Rexburg up to the Plano townsite.

“This is NOT an evacuation order. However, now is the time to prepare in case conditions change,” stated the Sheriff’s Office in a Facebook post.

How to Prepare:

Gather important documents, medications, pets, and essential belongings.

Make a plan for where you will go if an evacuation becomes necessary.

Stay alert for official updates.

The Sheriff’s Office is asking the public to stay clear of the vicinity to ensure first responders can do their jobs safely. Members of the public are also strictly prohibited from flying drones anywhere near the wildfire.

“If you fly a drone near the fire, firefighting aircraft may be forced to stop operations, delaying suppression efforts and putting lives at greater risk. If you fly, they can’t,” states MCSO.

ORIGINAL:

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) — A fast-moving wildfire west of Rexburg is forcing potential evacuations in Madison County.

The blaze, dubbed the “Maze Fire,” began sometime before 4 p.m. near the Unified Sportsmen’s Club, according to WatchDuty.com.

Official reports estimate the fire has grown to around 150 acres in the last hour.

In an official Wireless Emergency Alert, the Eastern Idaho Interagency Fire directed residents on 6000 W who are North of West Hwy 33 in Rexburg up to the Plano townsite to be READY to evacuate.

This is a developing story. Local News 8 has a crew en route and will provide updates live on air and online as we learn more.

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Fire danger remains high across the region despite end of holiday

Kaelyn Blessinger

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Throughout the Independence Day weekend, firefighters were called out to multiple fires across the Bonneville County area. Even though the holiday has officially concluded, fire officials warn that the danger is far from over.

This year has been unusually hot and dry when shooting off fireworks. IFFD reports its crews were called out to six grass fires on July 3 alone, followed by a steady stream of small brush fires during and after the Fourth of July celebrations.

“People still have leftover fireworks that they want to use, so the risk is just as high, if not higher,” said IFFD Chief Johan Olsen. “We set up additional resources on and around the Fourth alongside our neighboring agencies. Now, we’re back to status quo staffing. Whenever we have these conditions, the likelihood of having multiple fires at the same time increases.”

The sheer volume of calls over the weekend pushed local resources to their limits. Olsen says if it weren’t for the teamwork of multiple nearby departments, local firefighters could have been swamped, and resources would have run low.

While the holiday is over, the IFFD is urging the community to remain highly vigilant as the dry season continues.

“I’d like to give just a plea for help from the community to to do their part and help the emergency providers and firefighters to be able to have to be able to work within their bandwidth,” Chief Olsen pleads. “Just be careful. Recognize that the conditions are the way they are. And ultimately, we don’t want anybody to end up in that situation where they’re having to be held accountable for property loss or, heaven forbid, loss of life.”

Residents are encouraged to check local fire regulations and guidelines. For more information on burn restrictions and fire safety in your area, click HERE.

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Pocatello begins construction on Johnny Creek Sanitary Sewer Project

News Release

The following is a news release from the City of Pocatello Public Works:

POCATELLO, Idaho — Construction is now underway on the Johnny Creek Sanitary Sewer Project, an important infrastructure investment that will bring municipal sewer service to a portion of the Johnny Creek area that currently relies on individual septic systems.

The project is located along approximately one mile of Johnny Creek Road, between Wild Mountain Drive and Juniper Hill Road, west of Bannock Highway. Work includes installing approximately 0.8 miles of new 8-inch gravity sewer main, 24 manholes, and asphalt roadway repairs. Future phases are planned to extend sewer service into nearby neighborhoods.

Once complete, the project will provide a reliable municipal sewer connection for approximately 200 homes that currently rely on septic systems. It is also expected to reduce septic system discharge into local groundwater by an estimated 54,900 gallons per day, helping protect water quality while improving long-term public infrastructure.

The City extends its appreciation to Congressman Mike Simpson for his support in securing this critical infrastructure funding through the federal Community Project Funding process.

During construction, one lane of Johnny Creek Road will remain open at all times. Temporary traffic signals and flaggers will direct traffic as needed. The City appreciates the public’s patience as this important project moves forward. Construction is expected to continue through the summer and fall, with completion anticipated by the end of October 2026, weather and other unforeseen circumstances permitting.

The Johnny Creek Sanitary Sewer Project also advances the City’s Comprehensive Plan 2040 and its Environmentally Resilient vision. By expanding municipal sewer service, the project supports the plan’s goal of protecting and enhancing ground and surface water resources in the Portneuf River Valley while advancing the strategy of connecting more areas of the City to the sanitary sewer system to help safeguard local aquifers from contamination. Link: pocatello.gov/DocumentCenter/View/318/Comprehensive-Plan-2040-PDF#page=22

This project is funded through a $1.75 million grant awarded to the City of Pocatello by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the 2024 Consolidated Appropriations Act. As a recipient of federal funding, the City is required to comply with all applicable grant conditions and federal requirements. Procurement for this project is being conducted in accordance with Idaho Code Title 67, Chapter 28 (Purchasing by Political Subdivisions), the City of Pocatello Purchasing Policies, 2 CFR Part 200, and all other applicable EPA grant regulations. This investment supports critical infrastructure improvements that will enhance public services and benefit the Johnny Creek community for years to come.

Pocatello Projects: pocatello.gov/projects

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Fireworks Will No Longer Be Allowed on Fort Hall Reservation

Nick Anderson

FORT HALL, Idaho (KIFI) — Following the Fourth of July holiday, the Fort Hall Business Council has prohibited the use of fireworks on the Fort Hall Reservation.

Tribal Leadership announced the public safety notice on Facebook, stating the measure is “in place to help protect our community, homes, natural resources, and first responders from the risk of wildfire.”

The Council also reminds that anyone may be cited if they are found lighting or discharging fireworks on the Fort Hall Reservation.

The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes express their appreciation to all who celebrated the Fourth of July holiday responsibly, and they offer thanks for keeping the Fort Hall Reservation safe!

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