Cynthia Berendzen was at the center of a Las Cruces, New Mexico case that began after neighbors reported not seeing her for weeks, prompting a welfare check at her home. When officers entered the residence, they found signs that the scene had been cleaned and later confirmed she had died. The investigation led to charges against her son, and the case moved through the New Mexico court system over the following months.

Court coverage reported that a jury found Dillon Alexander Waller guilty of first-degree murder and tampering with evidence in connection with Cynthia Berendzen’s death. Multiple reports also noted that prosecutors sought consecutive penalties, and the judge ultimately imposed a life sentence plus an additional three years on the tampering count.

Reporting on the investigation says Waller initially denied involvement when questioned, but later admitted responsibility. News accounts also describe efforts to clean the home and conceal what had happened, which became part of the evidence discussed in the case. By February 2025, local coverage described the sentencing as the final major step in the prosecution. Dillon Alexander Waller was ultimately convicted and sentenced to life in prison, with additional time added for tampering with evidence.