FORT WORTH, Texas (TCN) — A 23-year-old man is in custody for allegedly killing his mother and a dog, sharing photos of the bodies on social media, and claiming it was an “exorcism.”
On April 18 at 1:30 a.m., Fort Worth Police Department officers responded to the 9900 block of Farmers Branch Street for a welfare check and made contact with a suspect, who had blood on his body. Police entered the home and found a deceased female inside. They arrested the man, identified as Alexander Valdez, and booked him into the Tarrant County Jail on one count of murder.
According to an affidavit cited by KDFW-TV, an anonymous person contacted the Fort Worth Police Department and said they received a photo on Snapchat, allegedly from Valdez, of a woman on the ground covered with blood. When police got there, Valdez reportedly had a Bible in his hands as he sat on the porch and said, “It was an exorcism.” When asked why he had blood all over him, Valdez allegedly responded, “I was doing witchcraft to kill my mom.”
Police discovered Valdez’s mother, Tersita Sayson, deceased with apparent trauma wounds to her face, as well as a dead dog. They reportedly found a jewelry box with blood and hair on it. The medical examiner determined Sayson died from blunt force trauma to the head. There was also reportedly blood on the walls and carpet.
Some of Valdez’s friends told police that Valdez shared a picture on social media. One friend opened the photo showing Sayson and the dog, and they told the rest of their friends not to click on it.
Valdez’s bond was set at $750,000.