A Houston man is accused of sleeping in a bedroom just across the hall from where his mother’s decomposing body was hidden inside a duffel bag wrapped in bloody sheets. Arman Alexander Malik, 34, faces charges of tampering with evidence and concealing a corpse in the death of Dyna Sorto De Malik, according to court records and a probable cause arrest affidavit.
Background
The investigation began on Sept. 1 when deputies from the Harris County Sheriff's Office responded to a home in the 17900 block of Valley Knoll Drive for a welfare check. Family members reported they had not heard from Sorto De Malik for several days and that she was not answering phone calls or text messages. The victim lived at the residence with Malik. Upon arrival, deputies forced their way into the home and found Malik sleeping in a bedroom, where he was taken into custody.
The Investigation
After securing Malik, officers proceeded to a bedroom across the hall, where they detected an "odor consistent with a decaying or decomposing body." Inside the room, deputies observed sheets in the center of the floor with suspected blood on them. When officers lifted the sheets, they discovered a duffel bag. Unzipping the bag revealed a human arm, and investigators noted blood soaking underneath the bag, which appeared to have pooled for "an extended period of time." Additional blood spatter was found on a nearby dresser.
According to the affidavit, Malik is also accused of disabling the home's security system and obstructing cameras that might have captured footage of the incident. He allegedly placed his mother's phone on a setting that locks the device for one hour after an incorrect password entry, potentially delaying discovery. After being placed in a police car, Malik was found unresponsive and was rushed to a hospital, where he was intubated.
Key Takeaways
- Arman Alexander Malik, 34, is charged with tampering with evidence and concealing a corpse.
- The victim, Dyna Sorto De Malik, was found in a duffel bag in a bedroom across the hall from where Malik was sleeping.
- Harris County Sheriff's Office deputies discovered blood pooling under the duffel bag and blood spatter on a dresser.
- Malik allegedly disabled the home security system and obstructed cameras before his arrest.
- An autopsy is pending to determine the official cause and manner of death.
What's Next
The incident remains under active investigation by the Harris County Sheriff's Office. Malik, who was hospitalized and intubated following his arrest, has a court hearing scheduled for Tuesday. Legal proceedings will determine the next steps in the case as authorities await autopsy results and further evidence analysis.
Sources
Law & Crime
Harris County Sheriff's Office