Las Cruces, NM | February 10, 2025 – Dillon Alexander Waller, 31, was sentenced to Life in Prison by Third Judicial District Court Judge Richard Jacquez for the first-degree murder of his mother, Cynthia Berendzen. Waller was also sentenced to an additional three years for the charge of tampering with evidence.
State prosecutors had urged the court to impose consecutive sentences for both charges, and Judge Jacquez agreed.
The tragic case unfolded in November 2022 when Las Cruces police conducted a welfare check on Berendzen after concerned neighbors reported not seeing her for weeks. Officers discovered a strong odor of bleach and found Berendzen's decomposed body in the shower.
Following Waller's arrest, he initially denied any involvement in his mother's death but later confessed to strangling her while she slept. He admitted to moving her body to the shower, cleaning the scene, and attempting to cover up the crime with the help of a friend.
"This sentence reflects the gravity of the crime and serves as a reminder that justice will be served for victims and their families," said District Attorney Fernando Macias. "We hope today's decision provides some measure of closure for her family and the community."
