Tristan Thomas Roberts, 18, lured his mother Angela Shellis to an isolated nature reserve in Prestatyn, north Wales, where he bludgeoned her to death with a hammer. Roberts recorded himself committing the murder, and Shellis was found dead by walkers the day after the killing. According to Daily Mail - Home, after the murder, Roberts posted on Discord describing the day as 'the craziest day' and detailing how he beat her and smashed her skull with a sledge hammer.
Roberts spent weeks researching the killing and announced his intention to kill 45-year-old Angela Shellis on the social media platform Discord. On the night of the murder he changed his profile status to indicate it was the night of the attack. According to Daily Mail - Home, on a recording, Roberts said this was the moment they were doing it and they were going to hit her with a sledge hammer. The court heard that Roberts made a continuous recording lasting more than four-and-a-half hours of the events, including the fatal blows. Police found evidence on Roberts' laptop that he spent hours every day online posting misogynistic and violent messages, mainly on Discord.
Deeply saddened by the circumstances surrounding this case.
On the morning of 25 October 2025 her body was found by dog walkers at about 08:30 at Morfa Nature Reserve near Prestatyn. Police found a trail of blood stretching for more than 100m (330ft) on a gravel path which led them to her body, which was hidden in undergrowth. A crutch was found nearby along with a blood-soaked balaclava and a pair of gloves. Police were unable to identify her until a relative phoned to say they were worried about Angela's safety after reports a woman's body had been found, and during the call it was revealed that she was using a crutch.
At about 13:25, police arrested Roberts at home. Over the course of four days he was interviewed a total of nine times, answering 'no comment' to each question. On 28 October, Roberts was charged with murder.
Committed to helping keep our users safe.
Police found evidence on Roberts' laptop that he spent hours every day online posting misogynistic and violent messages, mainly on social media platform Discord. He also developed a morbid fascination with fictional serial killers Dexter and Patrick Bateman in American Psycho. Despite being thrown off Discord several times for violating the site's code of conduct, he returned with different aliases, 16 in total. According to www.bbc.com, Roberts posted messages such as expressing hatred and distrust towards girls, among many others.
Roberts pleaded guilty to murder in February at Mold Crown Court. He was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 22 years and six months.
I hope in time you can come to understand the full consequences of your actions, and the pain and devastation they have caused to so many people.
Judge Rhys Rowlands said Roberts looked forward to inflicting pain and enjoyed what he was doing. Roberts had autism and ADHD diagnoses, though it remains unknown what interventions or support were provided for these conditions prior to the murder.
According to www.bbc.com, Sarah Gunther, Angela Shellis's sister, told Roberts she hoped he could come to understand the full consequences of his actions and the pain and devastation they caused. According to www.bbc.com, family of Angela Shellis described her as a loved daughter, sister, mum and aunty. Angela was using a crutch at the time of her death after injuring her knee.
Loved daughter, sister, mum and aunty.
Discord said it was deeply saddened by the circumstances surrounding this case and was committed to helping keep users safe. How Discord's moderation systems failed to prevent Roberts from repeatedly returning with new aliases despite violating the code of conduct is among the unanswered questions in this case.
Roberts had previously held his mother hostage for hours in her bedroom. Tristan Roberts, from Prestatyn, Denbighshire, waited until he was 18 to buy the weapons he would use to murder his mother, including knives, hammers and axes, though how he obtained these weapons and whether there were legal failures in preventing this remains unclear.
Roberts made a continuous recording lasting more than four-and-a-half hours of the events, including the fatal blows. On the recording, Roberts said this was the moment they were doing it and they were going to hit her with a sledge hammer, as heard in court.
Police were only beginning to discover the extent of Roberts' violent desires, and the lengths he went to in planning his mother's death. The specific misogynistic and violent messages Roberts posted on Discord beyond the quoted examples have not been fully disclosed.
After the murder, he answered a message from his brother on his mother's mobile saying she was asleep in bed. The exact timeline of events on the night of the murder, including when Roberts lured his mother and when the attack occurred, has not been detailed publicly.
A mother was beaten to death in a planned attack by her teenage son who hated women and was obsessed with violence and serial killers. This case highlights broader concerns about online radicalization and moderation failures on social platforms.