48-year-old Angeline Mock faces life in prison after confessing to killing her 80-year-old mother in Wichita, Kansas, on October 31, 2025 — Halloween night. The former television news anchor believed the devil had possessed her mother, Anita Avers, and allegedly stabbed her to death. The Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office announced that the 48-year-old reached a plea agreement with authorities, accepting a charge of first-degree murder. Mock faces a sentence of life in prison, with the possibility of parole after 25 years, while the official sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 5.
Angeline Mock: “I had to save myself”
Angeline Mock was found with injuries to her hands on the morning of October 31 by police officers at her home in Wichita. Inside the house, the 80-year-old’s body was discovered with multiple stab wounds. Officers found kitchen knives and a cheese grater covered in blood, while a bed sheet had at least 12 puncture holes. The 48-year-old claimed her mother had attacked her, insisting she acted in self-defense. She also stated that Anita Avers was “spewing poison,” invoking religious phrases. “I had to kill her, she wouldn’t stop,” Mock allegedly said, adding: “I would kill that b*tch to get my mom back. I believe she is the devil.”
Angeline’s stepfather, Barry Avers, testified that the 48-year-old has serious mental health issues. She had been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, suffered from depression, and frequently experienced delusional episodes, believing the people around her were “robots.” She had previously been hospitalized in a psychiatric facility. Earlier in 2026, Judge Jeffrey Gehring had initially ruled Mock incompetent to stand trial, ordering her commitment to a state psychiatric hospital for treatment. Legal proceedings resumed after she was deemed competent once again, ultimately leading to her guilty plea. The 48-year-old had previously worked as a morning news anchor at stations KTVI (St. Louis) and KOKH (Oklahoma City), and had in recent years been working in software sales.
