Utah Teens Charged in Brutal Stabbing of Mother in Vacation Rental: Motive Revealed Through Diary Entry

Two Utah teen, under investigation for a tragic family incident are charged in connection with the stabbing death of Mihaela Sorescu’s mother, Andreea Mottram, at a vacation rental. A diary entry is being examined as a potential motive.

Washington City, Utah — What began as a family visit quickly spiraled into a chilling and tragic homicide, now under the scrutiny of law enforcement and the public eye. Two teenagers are facing adult murder charges in Utah following the violent stabbing death of 47-year-old Andreea Mottram inside a vacation rental home on March 22, 2025.

Authorities allege that Mihaela "Bella" Gabriela Sorescu, 16, and Abigael "Jay" Paige Flanagan, 17, carried out the brutal attack on Mottram, who was both a social worker and adoptive mother to Bella. The two teenagers are charged with first-degree murder, obstruction of justice, and motor vehicle theft.

The Discovery and Crime Scene Evidence

Mottram’s body was discovered on March 23 by cleaning staff inside the vacation rental located near 1200 Bello Aly in Washington City, Utah. She had been stabbed 14 times. Investigators found no sign of forced entry, but numerous pieces of critical evidence were recovered.

Inside a bathroom, police located two cell phones and a purse containing Mottram’s ID, submerged in a toilet—an alleged attempt to destroy or delay recovery of the evidence. A knife, washed but still bearing traces of blood, was recovered from the sink. In another bathroom, a crumpled pair of pants stained with blood and a visible imprint of a knife blade were found. Authorities believe the pants belonged to Sorescu based on size and appearance.

Timeline and Escape

On March 20, Mottram traveled to Las Vegas, Nevada, where she rented a car and was accompanied by both teenagers. At around 12:30 a.m. on March 23, an automated license plate reader captured the rented vehicle in Cedar City, Utah, about an hour from the crime scene. By then, according to a medical examiner’s report, Mottram was already deceased.

The teenagers fled the state in the rental vehicle, ultimately arriving in Pasadena, California. On March 27, authorities located and arrested them in Los Angeles. They were extradited to Utah and are currently held at the Dixie Area Detention Center.

Motive and Mental Health History

Investigators were provided a key insight into a possible motive by a man identified in court documents as Frank, who FOX 13 confirmed is Bella’s father. He told police that he discovered a diary entry written by Bella in November where she expressed hatred toward her mother and wrote that she wanted to kill her.

According to the affidavit, Bella had spent the past three years in a residential treatment facility in Washington County. Jay had also been placed in a residential facility, though their family had removed them before the incident. It remains unclear whether the two girls were housed at the same facility or were receiving similar treatments.

Legal Proceedings and Charges

Utah law mandates that minors charged with first-degree murder be prosecuted as adults. However, under state law, they cannot be sentenced to death or life without parole. The court documents filed by the Washington County Attorney’s Office present substantial probable cause that the two teens not only participated in the homicide but also took deliberate steps to conceal their involvement.

Sorescu and Flanagan have been formally charged and await further court proceedings. They face a grim legal road ahead as investigators continue to piece together what led to such a horrifying act.

Remembering the Victim

Andreea Mottram, originally from Romania, was a dedicated advocate for autism awareness and a co-founder of the American Romanian Coalition for Human and Equal Rights (ARCHER). Her social media presence reflected a woman deeply involved in mental health advocacy, the LGBTQ+ community, and her own family’s journey through complex medical and emotional challenges.

A GoFundMe set up in her memory describes her as a woman with an "incredible soul" who impacted her community and beyond.

As this case continues to develop, questions surrounding mental health support systems, juvenile justice laws, and family dynamics remain at the forefront. The story of Andreea Mottram’s tragic end is a solemn reminder of how fragile life is and how the systems meant to support healing can sometimes fall short of preventing heartbreak.

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