San Tan Valley Man Allegedly Kills Mother, Fakes Kidnapping in 911 Call

San Tan Valley Man Allegedly Kills Mother, Fakes Kidnapping in 911 Call

18-Year-Old Suspect Detained Following Discovery of Mother’s Body in Field

PHOENIX – An 18-year-old man from San Tan Valley was taken into custody Wednesday after allegedly killing his mother and attempting to mislead authorities with a fake kidnapping report, according to the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO).

The case began when a jogger discovered the body of 38-year-old Mary Collier in a farm field near Gantzel Road and Skyline Drive shortly after 9 a.m. Collier’s injuries indicated she had been stabbed and cut.

Approximately 10 minutes after the body was discovered, a 911 call reported a kidnapping at a nearby residence on the 700 block of W. Vineyard Plains Drive. Authorities soon determined that the caller was Collier’s son, who had fabricated the kidnapping story.


When deputies arrived at the home, they found Collier’s son with self-inflicted injuries. He was transported to a hospital for medical treatment and will be booked into jail upon his release, PCSO reported.

PCSO has not released further details as the investigation remains ongoing.