Teenager Receives Life Sentence for Brutal Hammer Murder of His Mother in North Wales
Tristan Roberts, an 18-year-old from Prestatyn in north Wales, has been handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 22 years and six months for the meticulously planned murder of his mother, Angela Shellis. Roberts pleaded guilty to the horrific crime, which involved using a hammer to kill the 45-year-old teaching assistant after a prolonged and calculated attack.
Elaborate Planning and Disturbing Influences
In the weeks leading up to the murder on October 23, 2025, Roberts conducted extensive research into methods of killing and techniques to avoid detection. He purchased multiple potential weapons, including knives, hammers, and an axe. Disturbingly, he expressed strong misogynistic views online and demonstrated a fascination with the horror film American Psycho, posting still images from the movie on Discord platforms.
One particularly chilling post showed the blood-spattered protagonist from the film with the caption: "i got urges." In another message, Roberts wrote: "its gonna be some american psycho sht haha." Additional posts revealed his hostile attitudes toward women, with statements including: "i do hate girls ... girls/women i also dont trust them" and "she is gonna just vanish off the earth ... now its time."
The Night of Horror
The attack began late on October 23 at the family home in Prestatyn, where Roberts initially assaulted his mother, causing bruising to her face and strangulation injuries. Police believe he held her captive in her room for approximately four hours before persuading her to leave the house around 3:19am, claiming he would take her for medical assistance.
The pair walked to a nearby nature reserve, where Roberts retrieved a hammer from his rucksack and delivered multiple fatal blows to his mother's head. Shellis, who required a crutch due to a knee injury, was found in undergrowth the following morning with her crutch nearby. A 100-meter blood trail led to her body, and investigators discovered gloves and a balaclava at the scene.
Chilling Recordings and Aftermath
Roberts recorded both the initial home attacks and the nature reserve murder on a dictaphone. On the day of the killing, he left a voice note 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 his use of the alter ego "Alex" remains unclear.
After committing the murder, Roberts recorded himself saying: "Oh God that was terrifying ... That felt so crazy." He later posted on Discord: "I've just had the craziest day." Police believe he intended to return to the scene with bleach to clean up evidence, as doorbell footage showed him returning home after the killing before leaving again.
Investigation and Legal Proceedings
Initially, detectives considered the possibility of a stranger attack, but doorbell camera footage revealed the mother and son leaving together. Roberts had turned 18 just ten days before the murder, which police noted was significant as it allowed him to legally purchase some of the tools used as weapons.
When arrested, Roberts appeared calm and asked investigators: "Is the body you found my mother?" A mental health nurse assessed him as fit for interview, but during four days of questioning across nine sessions, he responded with "no comment" to all inquiries.
Court Sentencing and Family Impact
At Mold Crown Court, Judge Rhys Rowlands told Roberts: "You appear to have revelled in the control you exerted over your own mother. It was on any view a truly awful way for someone to die. It was made all the more dreadful by the fact her attacker was her own son, someone who it is clear she both cared for and, indeed, worried about in the weeks leading up to her death."
Shellis's elder son, Ethan Roberts, said in a heartfelt statement: "All my mum ever did was love Tristan." Her sister, Sarah Gunther, described her as "a fantastic and fiercely supportive mum, the kind who never gave up, no matter how hard life became. She fought tirelessly for them, and her love for them was unbreakable."
Following the sentencing, 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."
