Arizona son accused of decapitating mother, claimed another man stabbed her first: police

According to the Glendale Police Division, for Fox 10 Phoenix and AZ FamilyAlejandro David Gonzalez, 25, was accused of murdering and decapitating his mother, Teresa DeJesus Cruz Rubio, 49.

Authorities said Rubio’s family went looking for her after she failed to attend the party, despite previously confirming her presence earlier in the afternoon. On Friday night, the family searched for Rubio at his home and found his body dead and his head unresponsive, according to police. A family member would then have been referred to as authorities.

“The family prepared a surprise birthday party for the victim. Earlier that day, at around 3:40 p.m., relatives contacted the victim, who agreed to meet with them. When the victim did not attend the meeting, the family got involved and went to her home, where they found her decapitated body,” police said, according to Fox 10.

“The 9-1-1 caller recognized that a family member was inside the home, had passed away, and that the victim’s head was down,” Sgt. Bryan Hoskin of the Glendale Police Division, mentioned throughout a press convention.

Hoskin said Rubio was found “under a blanket” and police discovered “the bathroom was still running” and “there was blood all over” the condo. He added that officers also found a knife block, along with a bloody knife in the kitchen sink.

Authorities said they were informed by Rubio’s family that Gonzalez had recently been released from prison and was currently staying with them. Police then considered Gonzalez a suspect and went looking for him. Investigators discovered that Gonzalez borrowed Rubio’s sister’s car, which was seen on surveillance footage leaving Rubio’s condominium late Friday afternoon.

Phoenix police discovered Gonzalez and his mother’s car at 2:40 a.m. Saturday, and he was taken to the Glendale police station for questioning. Investigators also said Gonzalez had dried blood on his clothes and other injuries on his arms and arms.

According to Fox 10, Gonzalez confessed to murdering his mother.

“Alejandro admitted to stabbing his mother multiple times using a kitchen knife, followed by decapitating her,” police said, according to the outlet.

During the press conference, Hoskin said Gonzalez claimed he was not the only suspect.

“Alejandro also spoke in the investigation and in the interview about the use of methamphetamines. Alejandro stated that there was another suspect involved, but the detectives did not mention any other evidence pointing to this, as they were going through the location with all the other evidence collected,” he said.

According to ABC 15Gonzalez reportedly told authorities that after seeing the other man stab his mother first, he stabbed her to end the pain.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Gonzalez was charged with one count of first-degree murder and one count of auto theft.

“It’s completely horrible. It’s horrible for the family that had to endure this, it’s horrible for the police officers that had to go see this,” Hoskin said.

According to AZFamily, Gonzalez has previously struggled with meth and mental health issues. Previous data shows that Gonzalez was previously convicted of aggravated assault on a police officer in 2021, during which he allegedly punched a police officer and knocked out his tooth. The outlet reported that he pleaded responsible in October 2022 and was released about 11 months later.

AZFamily reported, citing the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, that Gonzalez was also arrested last week on legal damages after allegedly breaking up a widow at a Fry’s Foods gas station. The sheriff’s office reportedly said Gonzalez’s case was sent back to the Phoenix Police Department after they did not have enough evidence to prosecute the case. He was then released on Friday – hours before he allegedly murdered his mother and was subsequently arrested.