San Tan Valley man plotted to kill mother amid arguments, deputies say; note found

SAN TAN VALLEY, AZ (AZFamily) – New court documents reveal more details about how an 18-year-old from San Tan Valley allegedly acted planning to kill his mother after a series of arguments.

Authorities say Alan Ashcroft is accused stabbing and killing his motherMary Collier, 38, when the two were in a field in San Tan Valley earlier this week.

At 9:04 a.m. Wednesday, Pinal County deputies received a report of a woman’s body in a field south of Skyline Drive. She reportedly had blood around her mouth and a broken kitchen knife lying next to her body. Authorities identified her at the scene.

Seven minutes later, at 9:11 a.m., officers received a report of a kidnapping involving Collier. Court documents show Ashcroft told the 911 dispatcher that his mother went for a walk in a nearby field and that “something really bad had happened.”

Ashcroft claimed that unknown people had taken his mother, and that he was currently at home with his father and two brothers. The 911 operator then asked to speak to Ashcroft’s brother, who reportedly said his brother and mother went for a walk, and Ashcroft returned home alone.

Court documents show that when Ashcroft returned to the home, he “appeared shaken and had blood on him.”

When deputies arrived at their home, Ashcroft tried to run from the deputies. He was unsuccessful and was taken into custody, where he “asked the deputies to shoot him in the head” and claimed he was “not innocent,” according to court papers. He was hospitalized due to a wound on his neck.

Authorities interviewed Ashcroft’s brothers, who reportedly stated that Ashcroft and their mother had been arguing constantly and had not spoken in three days. The night before Collier’s death, Ashcroft allegedly shouted at his mother, “I hate you.”

According to court documents, the mother and son went for a walk the morning of the murder to talk about their problems. However, when Ashcroft returned home alone and his brother saw red marks on his hands, Ashcroft claimed it was ketchup, officers said.

One brother reportedly asked Ashcroft where their mother was, but he did not respond. Court documents show the family noticed Ashcroft was behaving “erratically,” and he refused to look at them several times when asked where Collier was. Ultimately, Ashcroft claimed that Collier had been kidnapped.

Officers say the footprints on the dirt field matched the shoes Ashcroft was wearing. In addition, blood-stained clothes were found in the bathroom.

While authorities searched the house, they reportedly found a diary in Ashcroft’s bedroom, which apparently plotted the murder.

One message read: “My mother must be destroyed for her own good. Do it if you want to save her soul. Someone wants to take your place, fight! The time is now!”

Ashcroft was released from the hospital and booked into jail on Thursday. During an interview with officers, he reportedly said he decided to kill his mother on Wednesday while writing in his diary.

According to court paperwork, while Collier was waiting outside for Ashcroft before they went for a walk, he went into the kitchen and grabbed a knife.

While in the field, the two sat on hay bales. Ashcroft reportedly told deputies he saw this “as an opportunity to kill his mother” but hesitated. Collier saw the knife and asked her son to give it to her when a struggle broke out.

According to court documents, Ashcroft headbutted his mother, pinned her down and stabbed her in the neck. He then turned her around and covered her with his jacket before leaving the scene.

Ashcroft was booked on one count of first-degree murder.

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