A woman with a mental disability was stabbed to death, after being sexed by men
On October 12, 2026 Lavi Pham and James Salerno were both sentenced to life in prison after a jury found them guilty of the murder of 20-year-old Mary Collins in Charlotte, NC.
Lavi Pham, James Salerno, Mary Collins
Mary was killed in March 2020 at a home in Charlotte. Mary had a mental disability. Mary went to her friend Kelly Lavery’s apartment to hang out, Lavi and James were there too. The group engaged in drug use along with a woman named America Diehl.
Mary did drugs and engaged in sexual activity with the group. The suspects struck her over the head with a large glass liquor bottle. They put Mary in the tub and cut and stabbed her over 130 times. Mary died on scene.
The group wrapped Mary’s body in plastic wrap and put her in garbage bags, wrapped her up in multiple layers of duct tape, and put her body inside a mattress. They tried to maintain the shape of the mattress by filling it with miscellaneous items, including body wash and sliced open detergent pods to mask the odor.
Somebody that was at the drug party gathering saw Mary’s dead body and told police that a murder occurred at the residence.
A search warrant was conducted on the apartment and discovered Mary’s body wrapped inside the mattress. The suspects were arrested on scene. Detectives also recovered multiple knives, some with suspected blood on them.
Charges against America Diehl remain pending. Kelly Lavery previously pled guilty to charges related to this crime. In October 2026 James and Lavi were found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison.
