In brief: Death penalty sought in Post Falls double murder case

The Kootenai County prosecutor intends to seek the death penalty for a man charged with murder in the deaths of his wife and her young daughter in Post Falls last summer.

Prosecuting Attorney Barry McHugh has filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty for Angel Albertico Morales-Larranaga, 26. Morales-Larranaga, an immigrant from Mexico who’s living in the country illegally, is being held in the Kootenai County Jail on $2 million bond.

He is accused of first-degree murder in the July 8 strangulation deaths of Facunda Velenzuelaleon, 24, and Dayana M. Valencia, 6, inside a Post Falls apartment.

McHugh had no comment Wednesday on the decision.

Kootenai County Public Defender John Adams said, “It’s dismaying that the prosecutor has gone this route. The tragic events of that night don’t tell the full story of Angel’s dedication and love to his family. It’s basically a young man that spent the vast majority of his life working for his family, working for his children.”

Adams also said Morales-Larranaga “has entered into negotiations with the prosecutor’s office in an attempt to resolve this in a way that both families and his surviving children can find closure and peace, and we will certainly continue to do that.”

In a December hearing, Adams told a judge that his client had offered to plead guilty to both counts of murder in exchange for a sentence that would amount to life in prison.

Scott Maben

Man suspected in CdA, Valley robberies

Detectives have identified the suspect in the robbery of a Walgreens in Coeur d’Alene on Sunday as the man who robbed three pharmacies in Spokane County late last year.

Brian James Lindsey, 26, was arrested Sunday by Coeur d’Alene police after he allegedly robbed Walgreens at 335 W. Appleway Ave. On Tuesday, Coeur d’Alene police said in a news release that Lindsey is suspected of robbing pharmacies in Idaho, Washington, Montana and North Dakota.

On Wednesday, the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office named Lindsey as the suspect in the Nov. 15 robberies of Walgreens, 15510 E. Sprague Ave., and Albertsons pharmacy, 13606 E. 32nd Ave. Detectives also believe he robbed ShopKo pharmacy, 13414 E. Sprague, on Dec. 7.

In a jailhouse interview with KXLY earlier this week, Lindsey said he is addicted to pain pills and admitted to Sunday’s Walgreens robbery, but he denied robbing other pharmacies.

Jonathan Brunt