Judge removes ankle-monitoring requirement and denies bond revocation of Mary Collins suspect

A woman charged in connection with the gruesome killing of Mary Collins in 2020 will remain out of jail and no longer has to wear an ankle monitor. The stunning development happened Friday afternoon after the Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s office attempted to have America Diehl’s bond revoked for violations of the conditions of her release.

Collins was 20 years old when the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said she was stabbed more than 100 times in 2020. Police said her body was hidden in a mattress. Diehl is charged with helping conceal her death. Shortly after her arrested, she was released after posting $150,000 bond.

She was only allowed in public from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and was required to wear an electronic monitoring. The electronic monitor was overseen by a private company. Family members of Collins say CMPD’s policy prevents ankle monitors from being placed on someone arrested in connection with a murder.

The DA’s office says Diehl violated the conditions of her release by being out past curfew and repeatedly failing to charge her ankle monitor, which prevented her from being tracked. The private company managing her electronic monitor told Judge David Strickland they would be dropping her as a client.

“She stuffed Mary in a mattress, your honor, she is not entitled to second, third or fourth chances,” Homicide Lead Unit Chief for the DA’s Office Bill Bunting said.

Diehl’s attorney acknowledged she wasn’t as diligent with charging the device as she should have been but pointed out it has been faulty. He said she is employed, shows up to all her court hearings and isn’t a flight risk.

“There are no other violations that are alleged, no indications that she has tried to hurt someone or anyone else,” he said.

Judge Strickland agreed with him and denied the DA’s request for a $500,000 bond. He also removed the ankle-monitoring requirement since the company said they were dropping her.

The move to drop that requirement and not revoke the bond stunned family members of Mary Collins.

“It’s outrageous. It just changes your perspective of everything,” said Mia Alderman, Mary’s grandmother. “Never in a million years did I think that would happen. Never.”

“The message here in Charlotte is you can do whatever you want. You’re going to get out on bond. It is not an issue,” said Collins’ mother Kasei Canfora. “If you give somebody bond and they are out on an ankle monitor and they don’t do the things they are supposed to do, why should they be out?”

Before the electronic monitoring requirement was removed, Diehl’s attorney told Judge Strickland they found another company willing to work with her. Judge Strickland said he is not a fan of private electronic monitoring companies. That was a sentiment shared by Bunting, but he did not ask for the requirement to be removed.

Canfora gave a brief statement to the judge expressing her desire for Diehl’s bond to be revoked. Alderman was not allowed to speak. Both were beyond upset but say they won’t rest until they get justice.

“There’s a place reserved in hell for them, each one of them, and that’s the peace I have knowing I lived my life to the best of my ability I think I am going to be with Mary, and I think they are going to be down there eternally,” Canfora said.

The Mecklenburg County DA’s office says trial for James Salerno and Lavi Pham, the other two suspects in the case, is not expected until mid-to-late 2026. Pham and Salerno are both charged with murder. The DA’s office says Diehl’s trial will take place after Salerno and Pham’s. A fourth suspect, Kelly Lavery, pleaded guilty to second degree murder and was sentenced to at least 25 years in prison.

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