Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho (AP) — A northern Idaho man police say strangled a woman and her young daughter in the Post Falls apartment he shared with them has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder.
A 1st District Court judge also on Wednesday set bail at $2 million for 24-year-old Angel Albertico Morales-Larranaga.
Kootenai County Prosecutor Barry McHugh said Morales-Larranaga took his own two children away from the apartment and then returned and killed Facunda Velenzuelaleon and 5-year-old Dayanna M. Valencia.
"We believe the aggravating nature of the crimes justifies the bail," McHugh said.
Morales-Larranaga, who required a translator, appeared at the court hearing via video feed sitting next to his court-appointed attorney.
"Each charge has a potential sentence of life in prison or, in certain circumstances, the death penalty can be imposed," said Judge Barry Watson.
Morales-Larranaga hung his head as the translator responded that Morales-Larranaga understood the charges.
Investigators say they believe Morales-Larranaga was married to Velenzuelaleon but was not the girl's father.
"These two charges are particularly personal and sensitive because they involve strangulation," McHugh said. "We also have two victims in relationships with the defendant: one his 'wife' and the other the daughter of the victim."
Police took Morales-Larranaga into custody Tuesday after a friend reported he talked about strangling the woman and child earlier that day at Tullamore Commons, an apartment complex in Post Falls.
Morales-Larranaga left the friend's house before police arrived but officers quickly found him driving away.
Authorities said Morales-Larranaga's citizenship status is unclear.
His next court appearance hasn't been scheduled but will be within 14 days.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
