Neighbors Mourn Slain Garland Mom

Friends are mourning the death of a Garland mother.

Desni Bowie-Green, 58, of Garland, was strangled to death in home Sunday. Her son, Deon Reese Evans, 28, is charged in her slaying.

Neighbors said they were shocked by her death.

Mary Williams, who knew Bowie-Green for 12 years, said she hates all she can do for her friend is leave flowers.

"I wish there was some way we could have helped her,” she said.

“I was just sad to hear that that could happen so close to home, “ said neighbor Rachel Wilhelm. “Especially to Desni -- I just don’t know how something could happen to someone so sweet.”

"She mattered, and I pray she's in heaven and she's at peace now,” Williams said.

"I know that she's in a better place, and I hope that her family knows that, too,” Wilhelm said.

First Baptist Church of Hamilton Park declined an interview with NBC 5 but said that its members loved her very much and the church is still hurting from her death.

Bowie-Green was at church as usual on Sunday when her son showed up. Garland police spokesman Officer Joe Harn said the two were estranged. Bowie-Green had kicked her son out in January.

Police said a friend of Bowie-Green noticed some strain between her and her son. When the two left church together, the worried friend decided to check in on Bowie-Green every 30 minutes, police said.

The friend could not get in touch her Bowie-Green at about 2 p.m., and police found her body when they went to the home.

Evans was arrested later that night. He is being held in a Dallas County jail.

"He has not been cooperative with us,” Harn said. “But we feel like we can prove this case forensically, and that’s why he is charged with murder."