Mesa, Arizona — What began as a seemingly ordinary evening of board games with neighbors ended in tragedy after police say a 37-year-old Arizona man brutally killed his girlfriend just hours later. Authorities allege the suspect initially claimed he had returned home from work to find the woman dead, but surveillance footage and witness accounts quickly raised serious questions about his story.
Neighbors Say Nothing Seemed Wrong During Monopoly Game
According to investigators, Kyle Collins, 37, and his girlfriend, Cierra Tellez, 36, spent the evening with neighbors in the courtyard of their apartment complex playing Monopoly.
Neighbors later told police they noticed nothing unusual about the couple during the gathering and did not observe any injuries on Tellez.
One neighbor also told local media that everything appeared completely normal throughout the game.
Surveillance footage reportedly showed the couple returning to their apartment together after the gathering ended. Police say Tellez was never seen leaving the apartment again.
Woman Found Dead Inside Apartment
Authorities say Collins called 911 on July 21, claiming he had returned home from work and discovered Tellez dead inside their shared apartment.
When officers arrived, they found Tellez’s body between a bed frame and a bedroom wall. According to court documents, she had suffered multiple blunt-force injuries across her body, including a severe wound to her forehead.
Investigators also reported finding blood throughout the apartment.
Police allege a broken metallic cane shaft covered with blood and hair was recovered at the scene and is believed to have been used during the attack.
Surveillance Footage Contradicted Collins’ Account
During questioning, Collins allegedly told officers he had left for work around 9 a.m. before returning home at approximately 11 a.m., where he claimed to have found the apartment door unlocked and Tellez already dead.
However, detectives reviewed surveillance footage from a neighboring apartment and say it directly contradicted that timeline.
According to the arrest affidavit, Collins never actually went to work and was instead seen entering and leaving the apartment multiple times during the period he claimed to be at his job.
In one clip, investigators say he was seen wearing only camouflage shorts while wiping his hands, arms, and chest with a towel before going back inside.
Police also contacted his employer, who reportedly said Collins had called out sick through his mother.
Police Say Motive Emerged During Investigation
According to investigators, Collins later admitted learning that morning that Tellez had allegedly been unfaithful.
Police say he also claimed she confessed to secret fentanyl use and told him she had been exchanging sexual acts for drugs.
Collins allegedly told detectives the revelations left him extremely angry, and he admitted the two had argued that morning.
When investigators asked whether the argument had turned physical, Collins reportedly first denied assaulting Tellez before quickly changing his response.
According to the affidavit, Collins stated:
“That’s a lie, that is a lie.”
Police say he later made additional statements, including:
“I already know I’m f—ed… it’s my fault.”
When detectives asked him to explain further, Collins reportedly requested an attorney, ending the interview.
Murder Charges Filed as Prosecutors Call Case ‘Brutal’
Collins was arrested and booked on first-degree murder and kidnapping charges.
According to the arrest affidavit, while being processed at jail, Collins allegedly made concerning remarks when staff asked whether he planned to hurt himself or anyone else.
During his initial court appearance, prosecutors reportedly described the killing as “a very brutal and horrific murder” and argued that Collins posed a significant danger to the public.
The criminal case remains ongoing, and the allegations against Collins have not yet been tested in court. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
What are your thoughts on this case? Should surveillance footage play a larger role in domestic violence investigations? Share your opinion in the comments below.
