Former TV Anchor Pleads Guilty to Murdering Her Mother
Angelynn Mock, a former television news anchor, has pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the fatal stabbing of her mother in Wichita, Kansas, on Halloween last year.
Mock, 48, entered her plea Friday, Aug. 21, in Sedgwick County District Court, waiving her right to both a preliminary hearing and a jury trial. Under the terms of her plea agreement, she faces life in prison with eligibility for parole after 25 years. She is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 5.
What Happened on Halloween 2025
Police were called to the Wichita home Mock shared with her mother, 80-year-old Anita Avers, and her stepfather around 7:50 a.m. on Oct. 31, 2025, after a reported cutting incident. Officers arrived to find Mock outside the residence with cuts on her own hands. Inside, they found Avers lying in bed with multiple stab wounds. She was taken to a hospital in critical condition and later died.
A neighbor, Alyssa Castro, told ABC affiliate KAKE-TV that Mock approached her covered in blood and asked her to call 911, before taking the phone herself and going back into the home to report the incident. According to police, Mock told dispatchers she stabbed her mother "to save herself."
A Delayed Case Amid Competency Questions
A probable cause affidavit states that Mock made statements to herself indicating she believed her mother "was the devil." Mock's stepfather, Barry Avers, told investigators, according to the affidavit, that Mock had previously been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, a mental health condition that can involve symptoms of both psychosis and mood disturbance.
Mock's case was previously delayed after she was ruled incompetent to stand trial, putting the proceedings on hold before they eventually resumed and led to Friday's guilty plea.
Mock's Career in Broadcasting
Before the case, Mock spent nearly 13 years working in local television news before transitioning into data management consulting. She worked as a morning anchor at Fox 2 News in St. Louis from 2011 to 2015, and previously held anchor and reporting roles at KOKH-TV in Oklahoma City from 2007 to 2011, along with earlier stints in Minnesota, Montana and Nebraska.
Avers had worked as a marriage and family therapist in Wichita.
Curious for more stories that keep you informed and entertained? From the latest headlines to everyday insights, YourLifeBuzz has more to explore. Dive into what’s next.