Son charged
in mom’s deathMicah White, 20, is accused
of killing his mother and his
aunt, possibly while on "ice"
An Oahu grand jury has indicted 20-year-old Micah White on murder charges for allegedly stabbing, then setting afire his mother and aunt April 5 at his Kailua home.
White was charged yesterday with first-degree murder -- causing more than one death -- two counts of second-degree murder and first-degree criminal property damage. Circuit Judge Richard Perkins confirmed bail for White at $1 million.
White's mother, Kerry White, 48, suffered burns over 80 percent of her body in addition to a collapsed lung after her son allegedly attacked her and doused her with a flammable liquid at their Kainui Drive home. She had been stabbed at least three times -- twice in the left side of her chest. She died April 29.
White's aunt Sharon White, 58, who was visiting at the time, suffered burns over 55 percent of her body in the fire that gutted the home. She also had a fractured nose; multiple cuts to her head, hands and forearm; and suffered a collapsed lung. Just before she was taken to a hospital, she identified her nephew to a fire investigator as their attacker. She died on April 14.
Micah White initially had been charged with two counts of second-degree attempted murder, first-degree attempted murder and first-degree criminal property damage with bail set at $300,000. At the time, both women were still alive.
According to police, Kerry White had called her husband a total of four times that day. During one of the calls, she asked her husband to come home because Micah was "tweaking." During her last call, White was allegedly confronting her with a rolling pin.
Tweaking is a term often used to describe the irritability and paranoia that chronic crystal methamphetamine users experience when the euphoria from the drug diminishes.
Deputy Prosecutor Rich Stacey said language was added to the indictment indicating they will be seeking enhanced sentencing under "heinous and cruel" statutory provisions. By law an individual convicted of particularly heinous and cruel offenses faces extended penalties of life imprisonment without parole for a second-degree murder conviction. Second-degree murder is normally punishable with life imprisonment with parole. First-degree murder is punishable with life without parole.
White remains in custody at the Oahu Community Correctional Center in the mental health/medical module. He turned himself in to police after the incident.
White's attorney, deputy public defender Susan Arnett, could not be reached for comment.