KING COUNTY, Wash. -- A woman who wants to die for killing six
members of her family has finally been assigned new attorneys.

Michele Anderson and her then-boyfriend Joseph McEnroe have been charged with murdering her family on Christmas Eve in Carnation.

Anderson pleaded not guilty to the charges, but she told KOMO News she and McEnroe killed her parents, Wayne and Judy Anderson; her brother, Scott; his wife, Erica; and their children, 5-year-old Olivia and 3-year-old Nathan.

Anderson, who first contacted KOMO News from jail, also said she wants the death penalty, but her state-appointed attorneys, Cindy Arends and Kevin Dolan, wanted to fight for her life. She claimed her attorneys were submitting false information to the court in order to earn her a life sentence instead of the death penalty.

"They lied to me at the arraignment. They said I wasn't allowed to plead guilty," she said.

Now Anderson has finally parted ways with her two former public defenders.

There are only about three dozen attorneys in the state who are legally qualified to take on a death penalty case. Among those state defenders, not one was willing to defend Anderson.

As a result she is now being represented by private attorneys Stephan Illa and Lisa Mulligan, a judge confirmed in court on Wednesday.

Anderson has contacted KOMO News several times from inside the jail. During those tearful phone conversations, she confessed to the murders on several occasions and said she shouldn't be allowed to live.

"I ruined everybody's lives and I don't deserve to live after what I've done," she said.

The new attorneys refused to comment on their client's confessions and pleas for the death penalty.

"We are not prepared to address those issues," said Illa.

Her former attorneys, however, have already washed their hands of the case. Last month Arends and Dolan asked to step down from the case, calling Anderson mentally ill.

"Her goals were completely repugnant to mine, and I moved to withdraw," said Dolan.

Anderson has repeatedly insisted that she was, and is, of the right mind.

"I've been assessed by three different mental health specialists and they've all said I'm sane and competent," she said.

The defense has collected boxes of evidence and material to use in court, but Arends and Dolan said they're not sure how any evidence can save a woman who only wishes to die.

"I don't know. You'll have to ask new counsel and maybe they'll have better luck with Miss Anderson," Dolan said.
"And maybe she'll change her mind. I certainly hope she does."

Anderson is due back in court with her new attorneys in Sept. 19 when the King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg is expected to announce whether he'll seek the death penalty in the case.

According to prosecutors, Judy Anderson was wrapping presents for her family on Christmas Eve, when gunfire erupted in her living room and her own daughter began a bloodbath that left Anderson and five other members of her family dead.

She ran into the room and saw McEnroe shoot her husband of 38 years, Wayne, prosecutors alleged. Judy started screaming and turned his gun on her. She fell to the floor, not yet dead. McEnroe apologized and shot her again, this time in the head, according to a police affidavit.

After killing her parents, Michele and McEnroe burned some of the evidence in a backyard fire pit, reloaded their weapons and waited for Michele's brother and his family to arrive, according to prosecutors.

When Scott Anderson, 32, walked in the door, he spotted his sister with a gun and charged her, court documents say. Michele and McEnroe allegedly shot him multiple times. Michele then allegedly shot her sister-in-law, Erica, 32, who still managed to climb over a couch and call 911.

According to the affidavit, McEnroe then killed the Andersons' young children, 5-year-old Olivia and 3-year-old Nathan.

Previous coverage:

Judge sets deadline for new lawyers for Anderson

Judge agrees to new lawyers for Anderson

Anderson: Anger, mercy fueled Carnation killings

Carnation killings suspect: I committed other crimes

Suspect in Carnation killings seeks death penalty

Christmas Eve murder suspect to be evaluated

Thank God they didn't go there

Carnation residents gather to honor shooting victims

'I could never forgive what they did'

In Carnation, everybody knows your name

Death penalty a possibility in slayings

Prosecutors: Woman, boyfriend admit killing 6 family members

Daughter, boyfriend arrested in Carnation murders