A family's joy turned to horror when they discovered the decapitated body of a woman who failed to show up for her surprise 50th birthday party .
Teresa DeJesus Cruz Rubio, 49, from Arizona , was expected at the celebration but never arrived. Concerned relatives went to her home and found her headless body hidden under a blanket with multiple stab wounds. A knife block in the kitchen sink held a blade that appeared to have blood and hair on it.
The victim's son, Alejandro Gonzalez, 25, has since been arrested and is accused of murdering his mother. "It's absolutely horrific," Sgt. Bryan Hoskin said. "It's horrific to the family who had to endure this, it's horrific to the officers who had to go and see this."
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The tragic unraveling of events began when police interviewed Cruz Rubio's sister, who confirmed she was the last to speak with the Southwest Key Programs teacher, expecting her at a surprise birthday party. She also told officers she had lent her burgundy GMC Yukon to her sister, which was now nowhere to be found, reports the Mirror US .
Adding to the concerns, family members disclosed that Gonzalez had been staying at his mother's apartment after being released from jail on unrelated charges just a day before, as reported by the Latin Times.
Further into the investigation, authorities obtained surveillance footage from a neighbor's camera, capturing the vehicle departing from Cruz Rubio's home around 5pm. Later, the police located Gonzalez in the missing SUV, his hands and arms showing signs of injury, and his clothing smeared with blood.
Gonzalez was taken into custody at approximately 3.30pm on Saturday. He told detectives that after his mother picked him up from jail, he was left at her place. He also mentioned smoking methamphetamines with a man he met cycling in the area, according to AZ Central.
In a chilling confession, Gonzalez claimed the man "did something to his mom" and then coerced him into stabbing her, alleging that the man had already inflicted stab wounds on his mother. Gonzalez continued, stating he proceeded to decapitate her because the man convinced him "she won't feel anything."
"Alejandro confessed to stabbing his mother multiple times using a kitchen knife, followed by beheading her," revealed the police. They highlighted that there was no evidence of any other suspects involved in Cruz Rubio's murder, but Hoskin noted that the investigation is still ongoing and detectives are investigating the claims of another suspect.
Gonzalez is currently held in Maricopa County Jail on charges of first-degree murder and theft of means of transportation. His bail has been set at $1million, cash only.
Meanwhile, the family is raising funds for Cruz Rubio's funeral. "There [are] no words for the huge loss and hole left behind by the passing of Teresa Cruz," reads the online fundraiser.
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