Clovis woman pleads no contest to killing mother

A Clovis woman pleaded no contest today in Fresno County Superior Court to stabbing her 64-year-old mother to death in February.

Angelica Hadley, 40, accepted responsibility in the death of her mother, Maria Arellano, because she didn’t want to put her family members through the ordeal of a trial, said her attorney, Scott Baly.

Three of her four children witnessed the killing and could have been called to testify against Hadley, Baly said.

In signing a plea agreement with prosecutors, Hadley pleaded no contest to second-degree murder and admitted that she used a knife to kill her mother. In exchange, three counts of child endangerment were dismissed.

Hadley will be held without bail in Fresno County Jail until she is sentenced on Sept. 2. She faces 16 years to life in prison.

Clovis police, responding to a call about a possible homicide, arrived at Hadley’s home on Fowler Avenue south of Clovis High School and found Arellano dead about 10:30 a.m. Feb. 28.

Police said Hadley and her mother, who was visiting her daughter, may have had an argument that led to the fatal stabbing the night before. Hadley’s children were inside the home but were unhurt, police said.