A child welfare caseworker had just arrived to remove the children from their home. Minutes later, she called 911 after seeing what looked like blood on their mother's hands.
The Incident
On March 3, 2023, in the small town of Italy, Texas, south of Dallas, a Child Protective Services caseworker visited a home on Harris Street where five siblings were living with a relative. According to investigators, the caseworker decided the children needed to be removed and called 911 around 4 p.m. after seeing Shamaiya Hall, 25, the children's mother, come outside with what appeared to be blood on her hands. When officers arrived roughly five minutes later, they found all five children stabbed inside a back bedroom.
The Victims
Three children died: 6-year-old Legend Chappell and 5-year-old twins Alayiah and Ayden Martin. Two others, a 4-year-old boy and a 13-month-old girl, survived with serious injuries and were airlifted to a Fort Worth children's hospital.
Charges
Hall was arrested and initially charged with three counts of capital murder. In May 2023, an Ellis County grand jury indicted her on those three capital murder counts along with two additional counts of attempted capital murder for the surviving children. Ellis County and District Attorney Ann Montgomery filed notice of the state's intent to seek the death penalty.
A Documented History
Court records show Hall had a prior 2017 arrest for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after allegedly stabbing her sister's boyfriend. Her twin sister, Troyshae Hall, was separately accused of fatally stabbing her own 7-year-old daughter in 2021; that case has not gone to trial, as Troyshae was reported to be hospitalized for mental health treatment.
Community Response
Stafford Elementary School, located across the street from the home, provided counseling to students and staff in the aftermath, and a nearby church offered additional support to the community.
FAQ
How many children were affected?
Five total -- three were killed (Legend Chappell, and twins Alayiah and Ayden Martin), and two others, ages 4 and 13 months, were hospitalized.
What charges does Shamaiya Hall face?
Three counts of capital murder and two counts of attempted capital murder; prosecutors have said they intend to seek the death penalty.
How was the crime discovered?
A Child Protective Services caseworker who had come to remove the children from the home called 911 after seeing what appeared to be blood on Hall's hands.