What started as a 911 call for help at a downtown Mesa apartment has turned into a homicide case, with police arresting the man who first reported the emergency. Officers say a Mesa resident was taken into custody Saturday after his girlfriend was found dead inside the couple’s unit, and he now faces first-degree murder and kidnapping charges as detectives continue to collect evidence.
The man, identified as 37-year-old Kyle Collins, told a 911 dispatcher on Tuesday that he had come back to an apartment near Main and Hibbert streets and was performing CPR on his unresponsive girlfriend, according to KTAR. Mesa police responded around 11:15 a.m., and the woman was pronounced dead at 11:23 a.m., the outlet reports.
Investigators Point To Injuries And Scene Evidence
The victim was identified as 36-year-old Cierra Tellez. Officers at the scene observed injuries that immediately raised red flags and prompted homicide detectives to take over the case, according to Arizona's Family. Investigators said that evidence at the apartment, along with preliminary findings from the medical examiner and interviews with witnesses, led them to establish probable cause to arrest the man who had initially reported the incident.
Charges And Booking
Mesa police booked Collins into jail on counts of first-degree murder and kidnapping, KTAR reports. Detectives have not released any suspected motive or a detailed cause of death, and the department says the investigation is still very much active.
Case Status
As the case moves through the county system, detectives continue to process the apartment and interview witnesses. Authorities have not yet announced any court dates, and officials say more information is expected to be released as the investigation progresses.
