Mary Collins’ grandmother testifies that suspects knew she had a cognitive disability before they drugged, assaulted and killed her

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Court will resume Tuesday in the murder trial of Mary Collins. Day one focused heavily on the victim’s severe vulnerabilities. Prosecutors say Lavi Pham and James Salerno lured Collins to a NoDa apartment back in 2020 and stabbed her more than 130 times.

Her grandmother testified on Monday that Mary lived with a rare genetic disorder known as 22q deletion syndrome, giving her the cognitive abilities of a 15-year-old. Prosecutors say the defendants knew about her condition before they drugged, assaulted, and stabbed her. The state says the group then wrapped Mary’s body in plastic wrap and stuffed her inside a mattress to hide the crime.

Defense attorneys tried to deflect blame, claiming a third co-defendant, Kelly Lavery, acted alone. Pham and Salerno are being tried together and are charged with murder, kidnapping, and concealing the death.