The man accused of killing 36-year-old Mesa woman Cierra Tellez is due in court this week.
Kyle Collins, 38, was charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping in the death of Tellez, who was his ex-girlfriend, according to a charging document.
New details of the alleged crime were made public through court records, which indicated Tellez was murdered in a violent and “prolonged” attack. Collins has a status conference set for July 30 in Maricopa County Superior Court. A preliminary hearing is sheduled for Aug. 3. His bond was set at $1.25 million.
According to court documents, Collins was accused of killing Tellez after an argument on July 21.
Collins called 911 on the night of July 21, according to police. He told first responders he had found
Tellez unresponsive in their apartment and was trying to perform CPR on her.
When first responders arrived, they immediately pronounced Tellez dead and told police it was a crime scene.
Police said they found Tellez naked and badly beaten in her apartment, which she shared with Collins. Tellez suffered bruises all over her body, deep gashes on her head and wounds on her shin, according to court records.
A metallic rod was found near her body, according to police who said they believe it was a weapon used in her murder. The rod was broken with blood and hair on it.
Police also saw blood on the walls and the floor of the apartment and a large kitchen knife in the sink. There was bloody clothing on the floor outside the bathroom, they said.
Investigators said blood and other evidence had also been cleaned up throughout the apartment. They used the chemical luminol to see large amounts of blood in the bathroom, bedroom and living room.
When police interviewed Collins, he told them that he had left for work and returned home to find Tellez in the bathroom.
However, police said that video surveillance showed Collins did not leave for work and entered the apartment several times during the period he claimed to have been gone. The video showed a shirtless Collins exit the apartment while wiping his chest and arms, according to police.
Collins’ workplace told investigators that Collins’ mother told them he was taking a sick day to “clear his head” after finding out his girlfriend had cheated on him.
During conversations with law enforcement, police say that Collins initially denied harming Tellez and then said, “I already know I’m f-----.”
Stephanie Murray covers national politics and the Trump administration for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. She co-hosts “The Gaggle,” The Republic’s weekly politics podcast. Reach her at stephanie.murray@usatodayco.com, on X and TikTok @stephanie_murr and on Instagram @stephaniemurray.news.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Mesa man who called 911 charged with murder of ex Cierra Tellez
