Wichita, KS — A peaceful morning turned tragic Friday when Anita Avers, an 80-year-old licensed marriage and family therapist, was fatally stabbed in her home by her 47-year-old daughter, Angelynn Mock. The shocking incident occurred at the residence they shared on East Crowley Street.
Emergency responders arrived around 8 a.m. after Mock called 911, claiming she stabbed her mother “to save herself.” Officers found Mock outside the home, covered in blood and visibly distressed. Avers was still alive when paramedics reached her but later died at a hospital from her injuries.
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Anita Avers had dedicated decades of her life to helping families navigate trauma and conflict. She was widely respected in her field for her compassion and skill in guiding clients through difficult times. Her death has stunned both the local community and the broader therapeutic community who knew her work.
Mock, a former morning anchor and reporter for FOX2 St. Louis from 2011 to 2015 who later moved into data management consulting, was immediately arrested at the scene. She has been booked into Sedgwick County Jail on a first-degree murder charge. Authorities have not provided details regarding the motive or whether any prior conflicts existed between mother and daughter.
Neighbors described the scene as chaotic and heartbreaking, with many struggling to reconcile the image of a dedicated mother and therapist with the violence that ended her life. The investigation is ongoing, and police are examining the circumstances that led to the fatal stabbing.
The death of Anita Avers, a woman known for her lifetime of service and dedication to others, has left the Wichita community in shock as it grapples with the tragedy of a life taken in such a violent and personal way.