West Harris County man accused of hiding mother's body in duffel bag, wrapped in bloody sheet
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- A west Harris County man is accused of trying to conceal his mother's body after deputies found her inside a duffel bag wrapped in bloody sheets, according to court documents.
Arman Alexander Malik, 34, was arrested Monday after being released from the hospital. He is charged with tampering with physical evidence. His mother, Dyna Sorto de Malik, was in her 70s.
The Harris County medical examiner has not yet determined how she died.
Malik is expected to appear before a magistrate Monday night.
Neighbor Shaun Ward said nothing seemed unusual about the mother and son who lived next door. He described Dyna Malik as an active woman who worked outside in the yard and said her son had recently come to live with her.
But late last Tuesday, Harris County sheriff's deputies descended on the home on Valley Knoll Drive near Kieth Harrow Boulevard and what they found, as Ward later found out, was shocking.
"Every time I come outside and look next door, I cannot believe that happened right next door to me, literally right next door," Ward said.
According to court documents, deputies went to the home after Dyna Malik's daughter reported that she and her family had been unable to reach her.
Deputies forced their way inside and found Arman Malik asleep in a bedroom, investigators said. While searching the home, a deputy noticed the smell of what he believed was a decomposing body coming from another bedroom. Then, the deputy found a bloody sheet covering a large duffel bag. When he moved the sheet, he saw what appeared to be human skin and an arm inside the unzipped bag. The body was later identified as Dyna Malik.
"It's sad, like someone's grandma," Ward said.
Ward recorded video showing the police presence outside the home, where he said investigators remained through the night and into the following morning.
Court records describe a disturbing scene inside. Investigators said the duffel bag was wrapped in bloody sheets and a bloody rug. They also reported finding what appeared to be dark red blood pooling into the carpet beneath the bag and blood spatter on a dresser.
Additionally, detectives said several security cameras at the home appeared to have been intentionally disabled or manipulated.
According to the court documents, three indoor cameras were disabled, an exterior camera had been turned around so it faced the house instead of away from it, and another camera had been tipped on its side with its view blocked by a glass vase. Investigators believe those actions were an attempt to conceal or prevent access to potential video evidence.
Dyna Malik's cellphone was found inside the home, records state. Investigators said her daughter provided what she believed was the phone's passcode. A detective entered it once, and the phone immediately locked for an hour. Based on the detective's experience with iPhones, investigators said they believe someone had already made multiple unsuccessful attempts to access the device.
Deputies detained Arman Malik at the scene. Court documents state he appeared to be under the influence of an unknown substance. Detectives also reported seeing what appeared to be dried blood under his fingernails and scratches around his hands.
Malik later became unresponsive and was taken to the hospital, according to records. He was arrested after his release Monday on the tampering charge.
"That is scary, scary just to be next door to something that happened like that," Ward said.
Another neighbor told ABC13 that Dyna Malik had previously expressed concerns about her son coming to live with her.
Malik has only been charged with tampering with or fabricating physical evidence involving a human corpse. Investigators say he could face more charges.
His criminal history includes DWI and robbery.
