LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KFOX14/CBS4) — A Las Cruces man, Dillon Alexander Waller, 29, was convicted of first-degree murder and tampering with evidence in the death of his mother, Cynthia Berendzen. The jury’s decision on Wednesday resulted in a life sentence, with eligibility for parole after 30 years, plus an additional three years for tampering with evidence.
The case began in November 2023 when police conducted a welfare check on Berendzen’s home after neighbors hadn’t seen her for weeks. Upon entering the residence, officers noticed a strong bleach odor, and in the master bedroom, they discovered Berendzen’s decomposed body locked in the bathroom. Missing items, including kitchenware and an empty refrigerator, were also noted.
Investigators learned that Waller had been seen driving his mother’s vehicle around November 14, 2022. The vehicle was later found abandoned near the U.S.-Mexico border in San Diego, California, along with Berendzen’s dogs, who were in good health. The dogs, microchipped to Berendzen, led authorities to her identity. She was reported missing on November 17, 2022.
Waller was arrested in Las Cruces on April 1, 2023. During questioning, he initially denied involvement in his mother’s death but later confessed. Waller admitted to strangling Berendzen while she slept, moving her body to the shower, and cleaning up the scene with the help of a friend. He also took her bank card, fled to San Diego with her dogs, and later abandoned both near the border before crossing into Mexico. Waller eventually returned to Las Cruces, where he was arrested.