Woman Accused of Murdering Twin Sister Waives Right to Extradition Hearing
— -- A woman accused of murdering her twin sister by driving their vehicle off a cliff in Hawaii waived her right to an extradition hearing in a New York court this morning.
Alexandria Duval, 38, entered the Albany County courtroom in shackles, a yellow jumpsuit and with her long blonde hair pulled back. Duval's attorney, Kevin O'Brien, said his client was anxious to return to Hawaii to defend herself against a second-degree murder charge stemming from the fatal crash.
“She’s trying to figure out a way to ... defend herself and still be able to suffer from the loss of her sister,” O’Brien told ABC affiliate WTEN in Albany. “So it’s a real dichotomy for her. She’s got a lot of resolve and believes in what the justice system will do for her. It’s tough for her, she’s in a cage.”
The move clears the way for Duval’s extradition from upstate New York, where she and her identical twin sister were born. Terence Kindlon of the Albany County Public Defender’s Office, who was previously representing Duval, had said the defendant returned to her home state to mourn her sister’s death.
Authorities in Hawaii now have 30 days to collect Duval and bring her back to jail in Maui. Until then, she'll remain in Albany County Jail, according to WTEN.
Prosecutors say Duval intentionally caused the death of her sister on May 29 when she allegedly drove their SUV off the ocean-side Hana Highway in Maui. Duval survived with critical injuries, while her sister Anastasia was pronounced dead at the scene.
Witnesses said they saw the twins violently arguing moments before the driver seemed to suddenly accelerate and make a sharp left turn. The vehicle then slammed into a rock wall and plunged 200 feet to the rocks below, according to ABC affiliate KITV in Honolulu.
After being discharged from the hospital, Duval was arrested and jailed in Maui on a second-degree murder charge, and accused of deliberately causing her sister's death. She had planned to plead not guilty, but a judge later ordered her release after determining there was no probable cause for a murder charge.
A grand jury in Hawaii indicted Duval on that charge in October and Maui police issued a warrant for her arrest.
According to New York State Police, Duval was arrested on Nov. 11 after she was located at a residence in Albany. Police said Duval attempted to flee before she was taken into custody. She's been held in Albany County Jail since, awaiting extradition, with bail set at $3 million, according to WTEN.
The Duval sisters were born Alison and Ann Dadow in the Utica, New York, area. They operated popular yoga studios in Palm Beach County, Florida, from 2008 to 2014 before they changed their names. They moved to Hawaii from Utah in December 2015, according to The Associated Press.
ABC News’ Heather Van Arsdel and Lisa Sivertsen contributed to this report.
