An Arizona family made a grim discovery after a woman failed to show up for her surprise 50th birthday party.
The family had contacted Teresa DeJesus Cruz Rubio, 49, to confirm she would meet them at the location of what would be her surprise party Friday around 3:40 p.m., Glendale police said: according to Fox10.
When she subsequently failed to show up at the party, the family became concerned and went to Cruz Rubio’s house around 8 p.m. but were unable to reach the victim.
They later returned with a locksmith and were able to gain access to the house, where they found the decapitated body of Cruz Rubio, which also had multiple stab wounds. AZ Centraal reports this.
Cruz Rubio’s son, Alejandro Gonzalez, 25, has since been arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the death of his mother.
Teresa DeJesus Cruz Rubio, 49, was found decapitated in her home on Friday
Her relatives became concerned when Cruz Rubio didn’t show up to her surprise birthday party and got a locksmith to gain access to her home, where they made the gruesome discovery.
Officers found Cruz Rubio’s body under a blanket with multiple stab wounds to her abdomen, chest and arms, and a knife block in the sink with one knife that appeared to have blood and hair on it.
According to AZ Centraal, officers also noticed that there was blood in the shower, which was still running.
“It’s absolutely horrific,” said Sgt. said Bryan Hoskin. “It’s horrible for the family who had to go through this, it’s horrible for the officers who had to see this.”
Police then spoke with Cruz Rubio’s sister, who said she was the last person to speak to the Southwest Key Programs teacher when she called to confirm her attendance at what was supposed to be her surprise birthday party.
She also told police that she had loaned her car, a burgundy GMC Yukon, to her sister and it had disappeared.
Family members also noted that Gonzalez had been living in his mother’s apartment after being released from jail less than a day earlier on unrelated charges. Latin Times reports this.
Alejandro Gonzalez, 25, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the death of his mother
In the ensuing investigation, police obtained surveillance footage from a neighbor’s home, which shows the car traveling west from Cruz Rubio’s home around 5 p.m.
Law enforcement officers later found Gonzalez in the burgundy SUV, covered in injuries to his hands and arms, and with blood on his clothing.
Gonzalez was then taken into custody on Saturday around 3:30 p.m.
He told investigators that his mother picked him up from jail and dropped him off at her home.
He further said that he had smoked methamphetamine with a black man who was cycling in the area, AZ Central reported.
The suspect said the man “did something to his mother” and “then I stabbed her or something.”
Gonzalez also claimed that the man had already stabbed his mother, so he began cutting off his mother’s head, claiming that the man told him “she won’t feel anything.”
Glendale police said Alejandro admitted to stabbing his mother multiple times with a kitchen knife and then decapitating her
“Alejandro admitted to stabbing his mother several times with a kitchen knife and then decapitating her,” police said.
They noted that there was no evidence that any other suspects were involved in the killing of Cruz Rubio, but Hoskin noted that the investigation is ongoing and that detectives are looking into claims that there was another suspect.
Gonzalez was booked into the Maricopa County Jail on charges of first-degree murder and theft of transportation.
His bail was set at $1 million, cash only.
Meanwhile, the family is raising money for Cruz Rubio’s funeral.
‘There [are] no words for the enormous loss and hole left by the passing of Teresa Cruz online fundraiser says.
Cruz Rubio’s family is now raising money for her funeral, describing her as a ‘bright light to everyone around her’
“She was a bright light to everyone around her. She loved with all her heart and would do anything to see her family happy and successful.
“Words cannot even begin to describe the amount of pain and sorrow this tragedy has brought to her loved ones,” the report continued.
“We would like to ask the community to come together to show love and support for Teresa Cruz and her grieving family and to assist with costs and final arrangements.”
As of Tuesday evening, it had raised nearly $10,000.
The Glendale Victim Advocacy Center is also helping the family and officers are helping to deal with the trauma of what they saw.