Cherie Lash Rhoades, the former chairwoman of the Cedarville Rancheria of California, faces the death penalty if she is convicted of killing four people at tribal headquarters.

Rhoades, 44, is due to appear in state court today. She is being charged with four counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder and charges of child endangerment.

Authorities say Rhoades used a gun to kill four people, including her brother, Chairman Rurik Davis, 50. He had replaced her as leader of the tribe because she was accused of embezzling.

The shooting took place at an eviction hearing for Rhoades. Her son, who was ousted as vice chair, was also being removed from the reservation due to the theft probe.

In addition to Davis, authorities say Rhoades killed her niece, Angel Penn, 19, and her nephew, Glenn Calonicco, 30. Shelia Lynn Russo, 47, the tribe's administrator, was also killed.

Authorities say Rhoades shot one other person and stabbed another person, who were reported to be daughters of Davis. Both remain hospitalized in serious condition.

Child endangerment charges were added because Penn was holding her newborn baby on her lap when the shooting occurred. The baby was not injured and was only a few days old at the time.

Additionally, there were children in the hearing room and in the tribal building.

“Unfortunately some of the younger kids happened to have seen some things that were pretty horrible," Jack Duran, the tribe's lawyer, told KTXL.

Get the Story:
Ex-tribal chair accused of killings faces hearing (AP 2/24)
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