January 17, 2026
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Kansas Judge Rules Former TV Anchor Incompetent for Trial in Mother’s Killing

A Sedgwick County District Court judge in Wichita, Kansas has ruled that former television news anchor Angelynn “Angie” Mock, 48, is not mentally competent to stand trial on a first-degree murder charge in the stabbing death of her 80-year-old mother, Anita Avers, on Oct. 31, 2025. Judge Jeffrey Goering ordered Mock committed to a state psychiatric hospital for further evaluation and treatment and stayed the criminal proceedings until she is deemed competent. Police previously said they found Avers with multiple stab wounds in the home she shared with Mock and that Mock, who had cuts on her hands, made statements indicating she believed her mother was the devil and told authorities she stabbed her “to save herself.” Court records cited in the article say Mock had been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and suffered from delusions and depression. The Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office emphasized that a finding of incompetency neither dismisses the case nor results in Mock’s release; the prosecution can resume if doctors later determine she understands the proceedings and can assist in her defense.

Crime and Courts Mental Health and Criminal Justice

📌 Key Facts

  • Judge Jeffrey Goering ruled Angelynn “Angie” Mock incompetent to stand trial in Sedgwick County District Court on Jan. 16, 2026.
  • Mock is charged with first-degree murder in the Oct. 31, 2025 stabbing death of her 80-year-old mother, Anita Avers, in their Wichita home.
  • The court ordered Mock to a Kansas state psychiatric hospital for evaluation and treatment, and the criminal case is stayed until she is found competent.

📊 Relevant Data

Schizoaffective disorder affects approximately 0.3% of the US population, or 3 in every 1,000 people.

Schizoaffective Disorder | Fact Sheets — Yale Medicine

Schizoaffective disorder occurs more frequently in women than in men.

Schizoaffective Disorder | Fact Sheets — Yale Medicine

In ambulatory care visits for schizoaffective disorder diagnoses in the US, 65.7% were White patients, 17.1% Black patients, 10.6% Hispanic patients, and 6.6% other, though this reflects visit proportions rather than per capita prevalence rates.

Examining racial disparity in psychotic disorders related ambulatory ... — PMC

Heritability estimates for schizophrenia spectrum disorders, including schizoaffective disorder, are around 80%.

Genetic Relationships Between Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder ... — PMC

Individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders have an increased risk of perpetrating violent outcomes, with relative risks typically elevated compared to the general population.

Association of Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders and Violence ... — JAMA Psychiatry

An estimated 60,000 competency to stand trial evaluations are conducted annually in the US criminal justice system.

Estimating Annual Numbers of Competency to Stand Trial ... — JAAPL

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