FORMER TV NEWS ANCHOR SENTENCED TO LIFE AFTER MOTHER’S HALLOWEEN DEATH — ANGELYNN MOCK WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR PAROLE AFTER 25 YEARS

Angelynn “Angie” Mock, 48, pleaded guilty to murdering her 80-year-old mother, Anita Avers, in their Wichita, Kansas, home on Halloween morning in 2025. A year later, a judge handed down a life sentence.

A former television news anchor who once appeared on morning broadcasts in St. Louis and Oklahoma City is now facing decades behind bars after the death of her own mother.

Angelynn “Angie” Mock, 48, was sentenced to life in prison on October 5, 2026, after pleading guilty to first-degree murder in the death of her 80-year-old mother, Anita Avers.

Under the sentence, Mock will become eligible for parole after 25 years.

A HALLOWEEN MORNING THAT CHANGED THE FAMILY FOREVER

The case dates back to October 31, 2025, when Wichita police were called to the family’s home shortly before 8 a.m.

Officers found Avers inside the house with multiple stab wounds. She was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Mock was outside the residence when officers arrived.

According to the probable cause affidavit obtained by PEOPLE, Mock initially told emergency dispatchers that her mother had attacked her and that she had stabbed her in response.

Her account later changed during interviews with investigators.

SHE ONCE SAID SHE WAS DEFENDING HERSELF

Court documents show Mock told investigators she had gone to her mother’s bedroom to discuss an upcoming job interview.

She claimed she saw Avers handling knives and that her mother then came toward her with a knife.

Mock said she fought back and stabbed her mother because she believed she had to protect herself.

Investigators, however, noted that Mock gave different versions of what happened.

She ultimately pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in August 2026.

A FAMILY LEFT TRYING TO MAKE SENSE OF THE LOSS

During Monday’s sentencing hearing, Mock did not address the court.

Instead, relatives spoke about the impact Avers’ death had on the family.

Her stepdaughter, Sonja Kreutziger, described Avers as a loving and compassionate woman and spoke about the trauma her family experienced after losing her.

She also described how difficult it had become to face Halloween, a holiday that had once been associated with family traditions and happy memories.

The loss was not simply the death of a mother.

For the family, it also changed the meaning of a day they had once celebrated together.

FROM TELEVISION NEWS TO A PRISON CELL

Before the case, Mock had built a career in television news.

She worked as a morning anchor at KTVI in St. Louis from 2011 to 2015 and previously worked at KOKH-TV in Oklahoma City.

By the time of her mother’s death, however, she was no longer working in television and had moved into software sales.

Her life had changed dramatically from the years when viewers knew her as a familiar face on morning television.

A CASE MARKED BY QUESTIONS ABOUT HER MENTAL HEALTH

Court documents also detailed Mock’s history of serious mental-health problems.

Her stepfather told investigators that she had initially been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and was later diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, with periods of delusions and depression.

Mock was initially found incompetent to stand trial and was ordered to undergo psychiatric evaluation and treatment. A judge later determined in July 2026 that she was competent to proceed.

She subsequently entered her guilty plea in August.

Her mental-health history formed part of the background to the case, but it did not prevent the criminal proceedings from ultimately moving forward.

“HOW DO YOU CELEBRATE THE WORST DAY OF YOUR LIFE?”

At sentencing, the family confronted the painful reality that Halloween would forever be connected to Avers’ death.

For relatives, memories of costumes, decorations and family celebrations were replaced by the events of October 31, 2025.

Mock cried as victim-impact statements were read in court.

When given the opportunity to address the court, she declined.

She also indicated that she did not intend to appeal the sentence.

Now, nearly a year after the tragedy that shattered the family, the criminal case has reached a major turning point.

Angelynn Mock will spend decades in prison for the death of her mother.

And for Anita Avers’ family, Halloween will forever carry a memory far removed from the celebration it once was.