Charges Dropped Against Woman Who Drove Off Hawaiian Cliff, Killing Twin Sister

The twins were born in Utica, N.Y., and moved to Palm Beach, Fla., in 2008. They opened a couple of yoga studios before vanishing in 2014 and reappearing in Park City, Utah.
Charges Dropped Against Woman Who Drove Off Hawaiian Cliff, Killing Twin Sister
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UPDATE JUNE 9: The second-degree murder charge against Alexandria Duval, formerly Alison Dadow, has been dropped. The judge said prosecutors did not present enough evidence, and ordered for her release, according to the Palm Beach Post.

A bizarre tragedy has led to a second-degree murder charge for one woman from Haiku, Hawaii, who prosecutors say intentionally drove off a cliff, killing her twin sister.

On May 29, 37-year-old Alexandria Duval, aka Alison Dadow, was taken to Maui Memorial Medical Center in critical condition after her car was reported by witnesses to have driven off a cliff in Maui—her sister, Anastasia Duval, aka Ann Dadow, was killed instantly in the crash.

Alison is now facing second-degree murder charges and has been denied bail after attempting to leave the island on June 1, according to a Palm Beach Post report. She was arrested before her second attempt to fly out of Kahului, and is deemed a flight risk.

Alison is expected to appear in court for a follow up hearing on June 8.

The Maui woman who was driving a vehicle that plunged off the cliff, seen here being airlifted by emergency personnel, is charged with murder in the death of her twin, who was in the passenger's seat. Prosecutors say Alexandria Duval, who is also known as Alison Dadow, intentionally caused the death of her sister, Anastasia Duval, aka Ann Dadow. (Vicki Sawyer via AP)
The Maui woman who was driving a vehicle that plunged off the cliff, seen here being airlifted by emergency personnel, is charged with murder in the death of her twin, who was in the passenger's seat. Prosecutors say Alexandria Duval, who is also known as Alison Dadow, intentionally caused the death of her sister, Anastasia Duval, aka Ann Dadow. Vicki Sawyer via AP

Witnesses said the twins had been arguing in the 2016 white Ford Explorer prior to the cliff plunge, according to a Honolulu Star-Advertiser report. The witnesses said the vehicle hit a rock wall then veered off a cliff, falling 200 feet down to a rocky shoreline.

In this May 29, 2016, a vehicle sits at the bottom of a cliff off Maui’'s Hana Highway in Hana, Hawaii. Police say the 2016 white Ford Explorer fell about 200 feet. (Tom Johnson via AP)
In this May 29, 2016, a vehicle sits at the bottom of a cliff off Maui’'s Hana Highway in Hana, Hawaii. Police say the 2016 white Ford Explorer fell about 200 feet. Tom Johnson via AP

In the days following the accident, it was reported that the women’s names were actually Alison and Ann Dadow, and it remains unclear when they made the name change to Alexandria and Anastasia Duval—or if their names were legally changed.

Alexandria Duval, left, and Anastasia Duval. (Facebook)
Alexandria Duval, left, and Anastasia Duval. Facebook

The twins were born in Utica, N.Y., and moved to Palm Beach, Fla., in 2008. They opened a couple of yoga studios before vanishing in 2014 and reappearing in Park City, Utah, according to the Advertiser. In the same year, the twins filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection, claiming to be hundreds of thousands in debt.

Jose Lambiet, a gossip columnist who knew the twins, told the Advertiser that the girls’ criminal records both indicate a number of prior arrests in Florida, Utah, and North Carolina—he believes the pair made it to Hawaii in December 2015, but it remains unclear when they changed their names to Alexandria and Anastasia Duval. Lambiet referred to the pair as “slippery,” and believes they may have adopted “Duval” as their last name after the famous street in Key West, Fla.

In this May 29, 2016, photo provided by Vicki Sawyer, rescue workers respond to the scene of a car crash off Maui’s Hana Highway in Hana, Hawaii. A Maui woman who was driving the vehicle when it plunged off the cliff is charged with murder in the death of her twin, who was in the passenger's seat. (Vicki Sawyer via AP)
In this May 29, 2016, photo provided by Vicki Sawyer, rescue workers respond to the scene of a car crash off Maui’s Hana Highway in Hana, Hawaii. A Maui woman who was driving the vehicle when it plunged off the cliff is charged with murder in the death of her twin, who was in the passenger's seat. Vicki Sawyer via AP

Alison’s lawyer, Todd Eddins, told District Court Judge Blaine Kobayashi that “Alsion did not try to harm herself or the person she most loved and was closest to in the world.”

The lawyer also claimed the duo planned to open another yoga studio in Hawaii.