A 20-year-old woman with intellectual disabilities uttered her final words, "I just need friends," before she was allegedly stabbed more than 130 times by her ex-boyfriend and his associate in a Charlotte, North Carolina, apartment, according to prosecutors. The victims' dying words highlighted her vulnerability, which the defendants allegedly exploited to commit a brutal murder that prosecutors described as bleeding the victim "like an animal in a slaughterhouse."
Background
Mary Collins, who had a diagnosis of 22q deletion syndrome also known as DiGeorge syndrome, was reported missing in 2020. Her family stated she had the mental capacity of a 15-year-old. Collins was allegedly lured to the apartment of her ex-boyfriend, Lavi Pham, and his girlfriend at the time, Kelly Lavery. Prosecutors allege that the couple planned to kill Collins in retribution for her refusal to engage in sexual activity with them simultaneously. Family members believe Pham and Lavery took Collins for sushi hours before the killing and posted a video with her to create an illusion that she was safe. Collins’ grandmother, Mia Alderman, testified that she had gone to the apartment searching for her granddaughter, only to be told by Lavery that Collins did not want to be embarrassed in front of her "friends."
The Investigation
The investigation revealed gruesome details about the crime scene. After allegedly sexually assaulting Collins, the suspects reportedly stabbed her more than 130 times and bled her out in a bathtub. Collins' body was then wrapped in plastic and stuffed inside a mattress. To conceal the evidence, prosecutors say James Salerno and an 18-year-old woman he met on Tinder, America Diehl, used Cascade dish detergent and pumpkin spice shower gel to mask the smell of the decomposing body. Mecklenburg County Prosecutor Jane Collins presented these facts during opening statements for the ongoing murder trial of Pham and Salerno. The case involves four defendants charged with kidnapping, murder, and failure to report or conceal a death.
The Charges
Lavi Pham and James Salerno have pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping, and failure to report a death. Kelly Lavery, who was also charged with the same crimes, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and is currently serving a minimum sentence of 25 to 32 years in state prison. America Diehl is scheduled to stand trial in December. The charges stem from the 2020 homicide of Mary Collins. During a bond hearing in January 2023, Collins' grandmother recounted hearing that Mary had been found with a dog leash around her neck in the bathtub, bloodied and stabbed. The trial of Pham and Salerno is currently underway in Mecklenburg County.
Key Takeaways
- Mary Collins, 20, was allegedly stabbed over 130 times in a Charlotte apartment in 2020.
- Prosecutors claim the defendants used pumpkin spice shower gel and dish detergent to mask the smell of the victim's body.
- Kelly Lavery pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and is serving 25 to 32 years.
- Lavi Pham and James Salerno have pleaded not guilty to murder and kidnapping charges.
- Collins had DiGeorge syndrome, which her family says gave her the mental capacity of a 15-year-old.
- America Diehl is scheduled for trial in December for her alleged role in concealing the death.
What's Next
The murder trial for Lavi Pham and James Salerno is currently underway in Mecklenburg County. Following the conclusion of this trial, America Diehl is scheduled to stand trial in December for her alleged role in concealing the death and aiding in the cover-up. Authorities continue to process evidence related to the 2020 homicide as the legal proceedings against the remaining defendants advance.