Mesa man charged with girlfriend murder; Santa Monica woman killed in assisted living assault

Police in Mesa, Arizona arrested 37‑year‑old Kyle Collins on first‑degree murder and kidnapping charges after his 36‑year‑old girlfriend, Cierra Tellez, was found dead with significant injuries in their apartment near Main and Hibbert streets. Officers responded to a 911 call on Tuesday morning, attempted CPR, and pronounced her dead minutes later. Homicide detectives took over the investigation, citing evidence from the scene, the medical examiner and interviews as probable cause for Collins' arrest. The case will proceed through the criminal court system.

In Santa Monica, California, a woman was found severely injured in the communal bathroom of an assisted‑living home on the 1900 block of Pico Boulevard. She was pronounced dead at the scene despite emergency responders' efforts. Police later arrested a 35‑year‑old male suspect in connection with the murder, booking him in the 3600 block of Crenshaw Boulevard. The victim's name and age have not been released. The incident follows a recent homicide near the Santa Monica Pier.