San Tan Valley man planned to kill mother during argument, deputies say; note found

SAN TAN VALLEY, AZ (AZ Family) — New court documents reveal more details about how an 18-year-old San Tan Valley teenager allegedly planned to kill his mother after a series of arguments.

Authorities say Alan Ashcroft is accused of stabbed and killed his motherMary Collier, 38, when they were in a field in the 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. There was reportedly blood around her mouth and a broken kitchen knife lying near her body. Law enforcement officers recognized her at the scene.

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

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

Court documents state that when Ashcroft returned home, he “appeared dazed and covered in blood.”

When deputies arrived at their home, Ashcroft tried to run from deputies. He failed and was taken into custody, where he “asked deputies to shoot him in the head” and maintained that he was “innocent,” according to court documents. He was hospitalized with a neck injury.

Alan Ashcroft was booked into jail Thursday afternoon in connection with the death of his... — Alan Ashcroft was arrested Thursday afternoon in connection with the death of his mother, Mary Collier, the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office said.(Pinal County Sheriff’s Office)

Authorities interviewed Ashcroft’s brothers, who reportedly said Ashcroft and their mother had been arguing and hadn’t spoken to each other in three days. The night before Collier’s death, Ashcroft allegedly yelled “I hate you” to his mother.

Court documents state that on the morning of the murder, mother and son went for a walk 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, deputies said.

One brother reportedly asked Ashcroft where their mother was, but he did not answer. Court documents say the family noticed Ashcroft’s demeanor was “off” and he repeatedly refused to look at them when asked where Collier was. Ashcroft eventually claimed that Collier had been kidnapped.

Deputies say footprints on the ground match the shoes Ashcroft was wearing. In addition, bloodstained clothes were found in the bathroom.

During a search of the house, they reportedly found a diary in Ashcroft’s bedroom that allegedly plotted the murder.

One entry 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 has come!”

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

According to court documents, as Collier waited for Ashcroft outside before their outing, he went into the kitchen and grabbed a knife.

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

Court documents say Ashcroft head-butted his mother, pinned her down and stabbed her in the neck. He then turned her over and covered her with his jacket before leaving the scene.

Ashcroft was convicted of one count of first-degree murder.

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