A former television news anchor has confessed to killing her 80-year-old mother last Halloween at their home in Kansas, claiming she believed her mother was possessed.
Angelynn “Angie” Mock entered a guilty plea on Friday to first-degree murder for fatally stabbing her mother, Anita Avers, in their Wichita home on October 31, 2025, as announced by the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.
At 48 years old, Mock is facing a life sentence as part of her plea agreement, with the possibility of parole after 25 years, according to prosecutors.
Mock previously worked as a morning anchor at KTVI in St. Louis from 2011 to 2015 and later at KOKH in Oklahoma City. However, she was employed in sales at a data management software firm at the time of the incident.
Police responded to a call at the home shared by Mock, Avers, and her stepfather around 7:50 a.m. on October 31 last year and discovered Avers with several stab wounds, as detailed in a probable cause affidavit.
When officers arrived, Mock was found outside with cuts on her hands and was subsequently taken into custody.
After her arrest, Mock made several claims, insisting she thought her mother was the devil and stating she killed her in self-defense. According to the affidavit, she said she acted to “save herself.”
Mock recounted visiting her mother’s room to discuss a job interview she had at KSN and found her mother sharpening knives. She alleged that Avers approached her with a knife, leading to a struggle in which Mock said she ultimately overpowered her mother.
As the altercation continued, Mock claimed her mother uttered, “I know you’re f–king Jesus Christ,” while Mock attempted to retreat. This led Mock to grab a knife, pin her mother down, and stab her, asserting that it was necessary for her own safety. “I had to kill her; she wasn’t going to stop,” she reportedly told authorities.
Upon arrival, police noted that Mock appeared to be talking to herself, making remarks that pointed to her delusions regarding her mother. “I’d kill that bitch to have my mom back any day. I don’t even know who she is anymore. I know, I believe she’s the devil,” she allegedly stated.
Investigators discovered several kitchen knives and a cheese grater placed on a pillow beside Avers’ body, with the court documents noting blood on the utensils and at least twelve holes in the top sheet of the bed, indicative of a knife attack.
Mock’s stepfather, Barry Avers, who was at work during the murder, informed authorities that she had previously been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and experienced delusions and depression. Although he acknowledged that she was on medication, he wasn’t aware of the specifics and only assumed she was taking it as prescribed. He described her as someone prone to angry outbursts but never thought of her as violent or threatening.
Barry mentioned that Mock often lapsed into delusional thinking, claiming others were “robots” and not genuinely real. He couldn’t specify when these episodes occurred.
He recalls instances in which Mock claimed she could become threatening, saying things like, “I could blow everyone up if needed to.” He also mentioned a previous incident that resulted in her spending about two weeks in a psychiatric hospital after an explosive outburst that led to police intervention.
Just a few weeks prior to the murder, she had a confrontation with family during a card game, which further highlighted her unstable state.
Her stepfather characterized the relationship between Mock and her mother as typical of many, with a mix of closeness and conflict.
In January, Judge Jeffrey Goering determined that Mock was not mentally competent to stand trial and sent her to a state psychiatric facility for evaluation and treatment, pausing the criminal proceedings.
After her guilty plea on Friday, Mock is scheduled for sentencing on October 5.
