A 23-year-old Fort Worth man faces a murder charge after allegedly beating his mother to death in what he described to police as an act of “witchcraft” and an “exorcism,” according to an arrest affidavit.
Alexander Valdez was arrested early Friday, April 18, at a home in the 9900 block of Farmers Branch Street, where Fort Worth police responded to a 911 call requesting a welfare check.
When officers arrived at the scene around 1:30 a.m., Valdez answered the door with blood on his face, neck, chest, torso, hands, and feet and holding a Bible.
“It was an exorcism,” he told police as he walked out of the house and sat on a chair on the front porch, the affidavit reads.
When an officer asked about the blood, Valdez responded, “I was doing witchcraft to kill my mom.”
Inside the home, police found the body of Teresita Sayson, 58, Valdez’s mother. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office determined Sayson died from blunt force injuries to the head. MedStar and Fort Worth Fire personnel pronounced her dead at the scene.
The affidavit alleges Valdez sent a group Snapchat message and photo showing Sayson’s body and a dead dog. One of the recipients called 911 to request a welfare check, giving police the address of the person who sent the message. Several of Valdez’s friends were present at the scene, though no further details about their involvement were provided in the affidavit.
Valdez refused to speak with detectives when asked for a formal interview. He was booked into the Tarrant County Jail on a $750,000 bond, facing a single charge of murder. The affidavit does not specify a motive for the killing.
Fort Worth police have released limited information about the case, and no additional details were available as of Tuesday.
The case has drawn attention for Valdez’s unusual statements to police, though the affidavit does not elaborate on what he meant by “witchcraft” or “exorcism.” Authorities have not indicated whether mental health issues are being considered as a factor in the investigation.