MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — A Berkeley County woman accused of murdering her 8 year-old daughter and shooting her 11 year-old daughter will face a jury trial in August.
Julie Orellana, 46 of Gerrardstown, was arraigned Monday in Berkeley County Circuit Court. MetroNews affiliate WEPM previously reported Orellana was arrested when she was located 16 hours after the September 20 shooting with a steak knife, a pistol, and a six-page letter outlining her reasons for shooting the children.
The letter placed blame on a disagreement with her ex-husband and indicated her two daughters were “all supposed to die”.
A criminal complaint filed by State Police Sgt. Garrett detailed the crime scene. Troopers responded to Orellana’s Tall Pine Lane residence on September 20 after the surviving daughter called from a neighbor’s home saying her mother shot her and her sister.
“Once inside the bedroom, Olivia Orellana (age 11) stated her mother began firing a gun striking her in the leg and hitting her sister. Olivia Orellana stated she escaped the bedroom and leapt out an adjacent bedroom window to get help. During the initial investigation it was discovered that Julie Orellana left the scene in a white Honda SUV, which was found abandoned on Cashew Lane. A search was conducted of 291 Tall Pine Lane where Eliza Orellana (age 8) was discovered deceased on the living room floor from multiple stab wounds and gunshot wounds to the chest, abdomen, neck and back.” -State Police records
An autopsy by the state Medical Examiner later revealed that Eliza was stabbed 32 times.
During Monday’s arraignment, a pre-trial date of August 2 was scheduled. Court records show Orellana’s jury trial is set for August 20 at 9 am.
Orellana faces charges of murder, attempted murder, malicious assault and use of a firearm during a felony.