Teresa Alvarez

Background

Teresa Alvarez was 25 when she was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced. She grew up with her brother in an unstable home and they were adopted separately. Alvarez was adopted by her great-aunt. Her brother was adopted by Margaret Theut’s custody arrangements after the neighbor died of breast cancer.

Margaret Theut was a 71-year-old Detroit woman who was a retired General Motors secretary. She lived for years in a neighborhood two blocks from Rouge Park. Theut lived in Detroit on Patton Street. For years she and her next-door neighbor had arrangements in which the neighbor sometimes left Theut’s two children, including Teresa Alvarez and her older brother, Jesus, in Theut’s care.

When the neighbor died of breast cancer, the maternal grandparents were awarded custody. The children’s great-aunt, Janet Jenkins, later said the family had problems and that “Things never really were stable with them,” adding: “They’d get an apartment and lose it and end up living in the park again.” Jenkins also said she was awarded custody of Alvarez and that Theut adopted Alvarez’s brother.

Theut and Jenkins decided to adopt the kids in 1996. Jenkins was awarded custody of Alvarez, and Theut adopted her brother.

Alvarez graduated from high school and became a manager at a Taco Bell. In 2011, Alvarez was accused and convicted of embezzling nearly $2,000 from the Taco Bell restaurant she managed. She received 18 months of probation.

While Alvarez was on probation, authorities said she planned a plot to kill Theut and steal her savings. The plan involved killing Theut as part of a scheme to steal thousands of dollars Theut had saved to donate to charity.

The offence

Margaret Theut disappeared in November 2011. Authorities said Alvarez killed Theut 17 years after Theut had rescued the then 8-year-old Alvarez and her brother from homelessness.

Authorities said the killing was part of a plan to steal thousands of dollars Theut had saved to donate to charity. The victim’s body was dumped on the outskirts of the same park where as a child Alvarez once huddled with her brother and grandparents, police said.

Police alleged that Alvarez planned the killing for weeks. During the case, investigators reported that Alvarez told others that “(Alvarez) told her friends that Margaret killed herself by overdosing on pills,” and then “she got dressed up and told everyone she was going to the fake funeral.” These statements were attributed to Detroit police homicide investigator Lance Sullivan, who told The Detroit News:

“(Alvarez) told her friends that Margaret killed herself by overdosing on pills,” Detroit police homicide investigator Lance Sullivan told The Detroit News. “Then she got dressed up and told everyone she was going to the fake funeral.”

Defense attorney James Schlaff declined to comment.

Investigation

In November 2011, Margaret Theut went missing. A neighbor named Theresa—whose identity was to be concealed—said she believed Theut had been killed. Theresa said she “keep praying for strength to go on,” and explained she was the one who first realized something was wrong. Theresa described the situation:

“I keep praying for strength to go on,” said Theresa, who wanted us to conceal her identity. She is the one who first realized something wasn't quite right. She couldn't get a hold of her dear friend and neighbor -- 71-year-old Margaret Theut, who lives on Patton Street in Detroit.
“I got suspicious. I started to get the neighbors involved,” Theresa said.

Theresa identified several red flags that made neighbors think something was wrong. She said Theut’s gate was unlocked and wide open, Theut’s car was gone, and Theut did not show up for a planned lunch date that Monday. Theresa explained:

“He TV was on. I walked over to her house. I knocked on the window, knocked on the door, no answer. Dog's in the house all by itself. She'd never leave her dog home alone,” Theresa explained.

Theresa reported Theut’s disappearance to police and remained involved with the case. A few days later, Theresa located Theut’s tan Impala eight blocks away on Vaughan near Tireman in the possession of the missing woman’s son’s sister’s boyfriend. Theresa said her immediate thought was “foul play.” Police impounded the vehicle and investigated.

A woman hunting for mushrooms near the Rouge River found what appeared to be human bones wrapped in a bathrobe and blankets in May 2012. Dental records showed the remains belonged to Margaret Theut. Authorities said there were no breaks in the case until May 2012.

Arrest

Alvarez had been in prison on a probation violation after being convicted in 2011 of stealing from the Taco Bell restaurant she managed. The probable cause hearing for Alvarez was described as to be held in Wayne County Circuit Court on May 14.

The case then proceeded to trial, where a jury found Alvarez guilty of first-degree murder.

Trial

A jury found Teresa Alvarez, 25, guilty of first-degree murder. The conviction resulted in mandatory sentencing under Michigan law.

Sentencing

On December 11, 2013, Wayne County Circuit Judge Mark T. Slavens sentenced Teresa Alvarez to life in prison. The sentence was life in prison without parole.

Appeals

No appeals information was included in the provided record.

Outcome

Teresa Alvarez was sentenced to life in prison without parole on December 11, 2013, after a jury found her guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Margaret Theut.

Aftermath

Theresa said she believed Theut was “in a better place” and stated that she thought Theut was “with the Lord.” Theresa said:

“Right now, I don't think she's with us anymore. I think she's in a better place. I think she's with the Lord,” said Theresa.

Friends took care of Theut’s house and her dog because Theut did not have blood relatives. Theut had been adopted and years earlier adopted a son who was now in prison.

Other details

The case described Theut’s life circumstances and family arrangements, including custody and adoption decisions involving Janet Jenkins and Theut. It also included that Alvarez’s brother went to prison on a larceny conviction, as said by Janet Jenkins.