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Son jailed for allegedly killing his mother in San Tan Valley

Harry November 2, 2024

SAN TAN VALLEY, AZ (AZFamily) — An 18-year-old has been charged with allegedly killing his mother in Pinal County this week.

Alan Ashcroft was booked into jail Thursday afternoon in connection with the death of his mother, Mary Collier, according to the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office. He faces first-degree murder charges.

The community in the San Tan Valley is left in shock as loved ones uncover new details about Collier.

Collier’s husband and one of her sons spoke on camera with Arizona Family and said the loss was tragic, sudden and inexplicable.

The 38-year-old was a mother of four who will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Collier is remembered as a kind, loving, compassionate and patient person.

Halloween decorations hang on this quiet street in the San Tan Valley as families prepare to trick-or-treat as neighbors try to figure out how something truly scary happened

“Yesterday, I was sick to my stomach thinking about why someone could be so hateful and abusive to the person who brought them into this world,” said neighbor Jill Appleberry, who lives just a few doors down from the Collier family.

Pinal County Sheriff’s Office says Collier’s 18-year-old son killed him He attacked her in a nearby field with a sharp weapon, then abandoned her body and called 911 to make it look like she had been kidnapped.

“Someone who doesn’t want to be caught for what they did because they have to make up a story and say something that isn’t true because they find out that part is fake no one kidnapped their mother, she did it herself. ” said Appleberry.

Collier’s husband told Arizona’s Family reporter Micaela Marshall that some sort of fight broke out Tuesday night, and the mother and son walked together the next morning in hopes of resolving any ongoing issues.

When her son came home alone, her husband asked where he was and said her son’s story kept changing. Together they set out to look for him, but soon the runner made a terrifying discovery.

“I am disgusted by the fact that another life will be lost due to violence,” Appleberry said. “As a mother, I feel sorry for the children because their older brothers took their mother away and now they have to live without their mother.”

Deputies said the suspect self-harmed and was taken to the hospital. He will be tried on murder charges when he is released.

Collier’s husband says their son has no history of mental illness, and deputies say he has no previous run-ins with the law.

A. GoFundMe was established helping the family.

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