Background and Planning
An 18-year-old man, Tristan Roberts, who held misogynistic views and was fascinated by the horror film American Psycho, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 22 years and six months for the murder of his mother, Angela Shellis.
Roberts meticulously planned the crime, conducting research on methods of killing and strategies to avoid detection. He acquired various potential weapons, including knives, hammers, and an axe, in preparation for the attack.
In the weeks leading up to the murder, Roberts posted disturbing messages on Discord, including a still image from American Psycho depicting the blood-covered protagonist, accompanied by the message:
“i got urges.”
He also wrote:
“its gonna be some american psycho sht haha”.
Additional messages revealed his hostile attitude towards women, such as:
“i do hate girls ... girls/women i also dont trust them”
“she is gonna just vanish off the earth … now its time”.
The Murder
On the night of 23 October 2025, Roberts initiated the attack on his mother, Angela Shellis, aged 45, at their home in Prestatyn, North Wales. Later in the early hours, he convinced her to leave the house under the pretense of seeking medical assistance.
The pair walked through a nearby nature reserve where Roberts retrieved a hammer from his rucksack and fatally struck Shellis multiple times on the head. Shellis, a teaching assistant at a high school, succumbed to her injuries at the scene. Roberts recorded parts of the attack both at home and within the nature reserve using a dictaphone.
On the day of the murder, Roberts left a voice note on the dictaphone stating:
“This is Tristan Roberts. Tonight, I’m going to be Alex and I’m going to murder my mother with a sledgehammer.”
The reason for adopting the alter ego “Alex” remains unclear.
Investigation and Evidence
Police were alerted to the nature reserve on the morning of 24 October after Shellis’s body was discovered concealed in undergrowth. A trail of blood approximately 100 meters long led to the location. Investigators found gloves and a balaclava at the scene, alongside Shellis’s crutch, which she used due to a knee injury.
Initial police assessments considered the possibility of a stranger attack. However, doorbell footage revealed that Roberts and his mother left their home together at 3:19 a.m. Authorities believe Roberts detained his mother in her room for around four hours prior to the murder. During this period, she sustained facial bruising and strangulation injuries.
Footage also showed Roberts returning to the house after the killing and then leaving again. Police suspect he intended to return with bleach to attempt to clean the crime scene.
Roberts had turned 18 on 13 October, just ten days before the attack, a detail considered significant as it enabled him to legally purchase some of the weapons used.
Arrest and Court Proceedings
Upon arrest, Roberts appeared calm and inquired:
“Is the body you found my mother?”
A mental health nurse assessed him and found him fit for interview. He was questioned nine times over four days but declined to answer, responding with “no comment” to all inquiries.
Following the sentencing at Mold Crown Court, Andrew Slight of the Crown Prosecution Service commented:
“The level of planning Tristan Roberts did ahead of committing this shocking crime was elaborate and calculated. His mother’s final moments must have been terrifying, yet he showed no concern or remorse for his actions.”
