City of Austin
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASERelease Date:
Contact: Public Information Office 512-974-5017 Email
Case: 21-0470272
Date: Tuesday, February 16, 2021
Time: 6:46 a.m.
Location: 4200 block of S. IH-35 Svrd SB
Victim: Amanda Morris | White female | 4/11/1975
Arrested: Michael Wells | White male | 44 years of age
At approximately 6:46 a.m. on Tuesday, February 16, 2021, Austin 911 received a call from a man who reported that his wife, later identified as Amanda Morris, was deceased. Michael Wells told the dispatcher that he had been the one who killed her.
Upon arrival, officers entered the hotel room where the suspect and victim were staying and found Ms. Morris with obvious trauma to her body. Michael Wells surrendered himself into police custody without incident.
Homicide investigators and crime scene personnel arrived to begin gathering information and processing the scene.
Michael Wells was transported to the Austin Police Department homicide office where he was interviewed. Following that, Wells was transported to Travis County Jail where he is charged with murder. His bond has been set at $850,000.
The Travis County Medical Examiner will conduct an autopsy to determine cause and manner of death. The case remains under investigation.
Detectives are asking anyone with information or video of the incident to call APD Homicide at 512-974-TIPS, email homicide.apd@austintexas.gov, utilize the Crime Stoppers tip line at 512-472-8477 (TIPS), or the Crime Stoppers app. You may remain anonymous. Information leading to an arrest may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.
You can also submit tips by downloading APD’s mobile app, Austin PD, free on iPhone and Android.
This is Austin’s ninth homicide of 2021.
Michael Wells Booking Photo: