Deputies say San Tan Valley man planned to kill mother following argument; Note found

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

Authorities say Alan Ashcroft is charged with stabbed and killed his motherMary Collier, 38, because the two were in a field in the San Tan Valley earlier this week.

At 9:04 a.m. Wednesday, Pinal County deputies responded to a report of a female 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., deputies received a report of a kidnapping involving Collier. Court documents say Ashcroft told a 911 dispatcher that his mother went for a walk in a nearby field and “something really bad happened.”

Ashcroft claimed that unknown people kidnapped 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 went for a walk and Ashcroft returned home alone.

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

When deputies arrived at their home, Ashcroft attempted to flee from the deputies. He failed and was arrested, where he “asked deputies to shoot him in the head” and claimed he was “not innocent,” according to court documents. He was taken to hospital with a neck wound.

Alan Ashcroft was jailed on Thursday afternoon in connection with the death of his... — 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.(Pinal County Sheriff’s Office)

Authorities interviewed Ashcroft’s brothers, who reportedly stated that Ashcroft and their mother had been in constant arguments and had not spoken to each other in three days. The evening before Collier’s death, Ashcroft allegedly shouted to his mother, “I hate you.”

Court documents show that on the morning of the murder, mother and son went for a walk to talk about their problems. But when Ashcroft returned home alone and his brother saw red stains on his hands, Ashcroft assumed it was ketchup, deputies said.

One of the brothers reportedly asked Ashcroft where their mother was, but he did not respond. Court documents say the family noticed Ashcroft was behaving “inappropriately” and he repeatedly looked at them when asked where Collier was. Ultimately, Ashcroft concluded that Collier had been kidnapped.

Deputies say footprints on the ground match the shoes Ashcroft was wearing. Additionally, blood-stained clothes were found in the bathroom.

When authorities searched the home, they reportedly found a journal in Ashcroft’s bedroom, apparently planning 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! It’s time!”

Ashcroft was released from the hospital on Thursday and booked into jail. In a conversation with deputies, he allegedly said that on Wednesday, while writing in his diary, he made the decision to kill his mother.

Court documents say that as Collier was waiting for Ashcroft outside before their walk, he entered the kitchen and grabbed a knife.

Once in the field, the two sat down on bales of hay. 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 headbutted her mother, pinned her to the ground and stabbed her in the neck. He then turned her around and covered her with his jacket before leaving the scene.

Ashcroft was charged with one count of first-degree murder.

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