Shortly after 7:40 a.m., Alyssa Castro and her boyfriend are in their car in their south Wichita neighborhood when a neighbor waves them down.

As the woman approaches, they see what appears to be blood on the woman's hands. The woman asks to borrow a phone to call 911, then takes off with the phone back into a house.

911 dispatch is called about a possible stabbing and relays a message to first responders that a woman says there has been a stabbing in her home.

Dispatch relays information that the person calling says the stabbing was in self-defense. She was trying to save herself from her mother.

Arriving at the home at 7:52 a.m., Wichita police find a woman outside the home with cuts on her hands and blood on her clothing.

Inside the house, they find 81-year-old Anita Avers unresponsive in her bed with multiple stab wounds. Both women are taken to the hospital. Mock is ultimately charged with murder.

This month Angelynn "Angie" Mock is undergoing a court-ordered mental competency evaluation. This has temporarily paused her first-degree murder case. The evaluation process typically takes 60 days . A new court date has not yet been scheduled.

• Arrest and Charge: Mock was arrested on October 31, 2025, and charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing death of her 80-year-old mother, Anita Avers, in Wichita, Kansas.
• Custody Status: She remains in custody at the Sedgwick County Jail on a $1 million bond.
• Competency Evaluation: Her attorney requested a mental health evaluation, which was granted by a Sedgwick County judge on November 14, 2025. The case was taken off the docket while the evaluation is completed, a process that typically takes around 60 days. The evaluation will determine if she is mentally fit to stand trial.
• Alleged Motive/Context: According to a police affidavit, Mock, who has a history of mental health issues including a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder, told police she stabbed her mother in self-defense, claiming her mother was the devil. Her stepfather reported that Mock had experienced delusions in the past, including saying "They're all robots" or "They're not real people".

Joining Nancy Grace today:

• Jim Elliott - Attorney with Butler Snow, Legal Counsel for Various Georgia Municipalities and Other Governmental Entities
• Caryn Stark - Forensic Psychologist, renowned TV and Radio Trauma Expert and Consultant; Instagram: carynpsych, FB: Caryn Stark Private Practice
• Dan Murphy - Former NYPD Detective-Sergeant, Joint Terrorism Task Force, Former Chief Security Officer, US Bancorp, Co-Host of "Gold Shields" Podcast, and Author: “Workplace Safety: Establishing an Effective Violence Prevention Program”
• Dr. Priya Banerjee - Board-certified Forensic Pathologist and Anatomic Pathologist, Anchor Forensic Pathology Consulting
• Melissa McCarty- Reporter & Host of the “Killer Genes” podcast, Author of “The Making of a Crime Reporter;" TikTok: McCarty143, Instagram: MelissaMcCarty1
• Dave Mack - Investigative Reporter, ‘Crime Stories’

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just blocks from the White House, a quiet act of service ended in tragedy.

Two young National Guard members were ambushed; one was killed instantly, and another was left in critical condition.

This week on Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum welcomes Dr. Sunny Slaughter to reflect on what happened that day and what it reveals about leadership, language, and the power of restraint.

Together, they explore how hate takes root, why communication can be a matter of life and death, and what it truly means to serve with empathy when the world feels like it’s falling apart.

Highlights:

• (0:00) Sheryl McCollum reveals Zone 7’s 2026 return to weekly episodes and the kickoff. of the 10-8 Tour

• (1:00) Welcome to Zone 7 with Sheryl McCollum and guest Dr. Sunny Slaughter

• (4:15) The ambush that killed Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and critically injured Andrew Wolfe, 24

• (7:00) How compassion, not politics, defines law enforcement and military duty

• (10:00) “Take the temperature down to zero”: Dr. Slaughter’s warning against political violence

• (12:30) Dr. Slaughter’s experience teaching “lens, language, and law” and why empathy is operational readiness

• (17:00) Service as calling, not career: advice for the next generation of guardsmen and officers

• (20:45) Sheryl and Dr. Slaughter on gratitude, resilience, and learning through hardship

• (27:00) Finding meaning after loss and the power of service on purpose• (30:00) Preparing for crisis: why every law enforcement professional must plan for the unexpected

• (35:00) The Florida eviction tragedy and how quickly crisis can turn fatal

• (36:15) Final reflections: honoring the National Guard members through unity, compassion, and continued service

Guest Bio

Dr. Sunny Slaughter is a law enforcement instructor, expert witness and crisis communication strategist who specializes in counterterrorism, extremism, and emerging threats.

As CEO of Sunny Slaughter Consulting and founder of the Sunny Slaughter Group, she helps agencies nationwide build crisis-ready leadership. A former military spouse and longtime advocate for justice and public safety, Dr. Slaughter has served as a U.S. Department of Homeland Security instructor and continues to guide federal, state, and local agencies in strengthening community resilience.

About the Host

Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an active crime scene investigator for a Metro Atlanta Police Department and the director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, which partners with colleges and universities nationwide. With more than 4 decades of experience, she has worked on thousands of cold cases using her investigative system, The Last 24/361, which integrates evidence, media, and advanced forensic testing.

Her work on high-profile cases, including The Boston Strangler, Natalie Holloway, Tupac Shakur and the Moore’s Ford Bridge lynching, led to her "Emmy Award for CSI: Atlanta" and induction into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame in 2023.

Social Links:

• Email: coldcase2004@gmail.com

• Twitter: @149zone7

• Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum

• Instagram: @officialzone7podcast

Enjoying Zone 7? Leave a rating and review where you listen to podcasts. Your feedback helps others find the show and supports the mission to educate, engage, and inspire.

Preorder Sheryl’s upcoming book, "Swans Don’t Swim in a Sewer: Lessons in Life, Justice, and Joy from a Forensic Scientist," releasing May 2

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Breaking crime news as it happens throughout the day! Follow "Crime Alert Hourly Update" now on your favorite podcast app: https://link.chtbl.com/Crime_Alert

Here's some of our top stories this week:

A man and woman discovered Melodee’s body while taking pictures in Wayne County, Utah, Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said at a Tuesday news conference.

A grandmother shopping for Christas gifts at Barnes & Noble is stabbed to death by a deranged madman who just arrived in town. He claimed he killed her because, "she was the closest person to him."

A state trooper in Delaware is killed while working an overtime shift at the DMV after stepping into gunfire to protect others. Santa Claus is pulled over for speeding on an Ohio road, not in his sleigh, but a silver Ford Escape. Drew Nelson reports.

A man from Michigan has been arrested after security footage revealed him trying to persuade children at a residence in northern Scott County to let him in by falsely claiming their parents were injured outside.

Stay informed, stay safe, and stay ahead with "Crime Alert Hourly Update.”

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.