Harris County Man Charged After Mother Found Dead Inside Duffel Bag in Home

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (TXAN 24) — A 34-year-old Harris County man has been charged with tampering with evidence after deputies discovered his elderly mother’s body inside a duffel bag at a west Harris County home, according to court documents.

The Harris County Sheriff’s Office was called to a home on Valley Knoll Drive in the Windsong subdivision around 10 p.m. Sept. 1 for a welfare check. Family members had reportedly been unable to reach Dyna Sorto de Malik, who was in her 70s.

Deputies forced entry into the home after receiving no response. During a search, authorities found Arman Alexander Malik asleep in a bedroom.

According to court documents, deputies later entered another bedroom and noticed an odor consistent with decomposition. Investigators found what appeared to be blood on a sheet covering a large duffel bag.

Inside the bag, deputies discovered human remains.

Court documents allege Malik’s cellphone showed an unsuccessful attempt to access it, while several surveillance devices inside the home had reportedly been disabled.

Authorities also said Malik appeared to be under the influence of an unknown substance and had what investigators described as dried blood around his fingernails, along with scratches on his hands.

The Harris County medical examiner has not yet determined how Malik’s mother died. Malik was hospitalized following the discovery and was later arrested. He faces a charge of tampering with physical evidence involving a human corpse.

The investigation remains ongoing, and the allegations contained in court documents have not been proven in court.