2 charged in Roy slayings; death penalty possible

Charging documents released Friday in the deaths of a Roy mother and her son provide new details about the grisly manner in which the pair was killed.

During an interview with police, Jeremy Lee Valdes admitted he kicked Pamela Knight Jeffries in the head, then placed a plastic bag over the 56-year-old's head and wrapped duct tape around the bag, according to the charges filed in 2nd District Court.

Valdes also told police that he stabbed Jeffries' son multiple times, the charges state. An autopsy report on Matthew Roddy, 30, showed that he suffered stab wounds and lacerations to his head, neck, face and upper torso.

Valdes, 33, was charged Friday with two counts of aggravated murder, a first-degree felony; obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony; two counts of abuse or desecration of a dead human body, a third-degree felony; and unauthorized control of a motor vehicle, a third-degree felony.

Valdes' girlfriend and alleged accomplice, Miranda Mandy Statler, 26, was charged with obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony; and two counts of abuse or desecration of a dead human body, unauthorized control of a motor vehicle and unlawful acquisition of a financial card, all third-degree felonies.

In charging documents, police say there were simultaneous arguments going on in separate rooms of Jeffries' mobile home on Nov. 25 between Valdes and Roddy and between Statler and Jeffries.

Each fight, at some point, became physical and centered around Statler's alleged theft of prescription drugs from Jeffries, the charges state.

"Statler heard Roddy scream for Valdes to stop," officers wrote in a probable cause statement. "Valdes emerged from Roddy's bedroom with a blood(y) knife."

When Valdes entered the room where Jeffries and Statler had been fighting, he found the older woman on her hands and knees. He kicked her in the head, knocking her unconscious, then fled the trailer with Statler for a period of 10 to 15 minutes, the charges state.

"Statler said that Jeffries was still breathing when she and Valdes returned," police wrote. "Statler watched as Valdes put a plastic bag on Jeffries' head and secured it with duct tape."

The pair then left the house again, allegedly taking Roddy's car, cell phone and a credit card. They later returned to hide the bodies in a closet where they were discovered five days later, court records state.

If Valdes is convicted of aggravated murder, prosecutors could seek the death penalty.