Case:                      23-2491403

Date:                      September 6, 2023
 
Time:                      9:08 p.m.
 
Location:                2800 block of West Anderson Lane
 
Deceased:              Troy Nicholas Cernosek, White male, 09/08/1964

Suspect:                 Christopher Michael McDermott, White male, 35 years of age

On Wednesday, September 6, 2023, at approximately 9:08 p.m., Austin Police Department (APD) officers responded to a check welfare urgent call in the 2800 block of West Anderson Lane. When officers arrived on the scene, they located one subject, later identified as Troy Nicholas Cernosek, who was not conscious and not breathing. Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services (ATCEMS) and the Austin Fire Department (AFD) also arrived to the scene to provide medical aid. Unfortunately, life-saving measures were unsuccessful and Mr. Cernosek was pronounced deceased on the scene at 9:50 p.m.

The official cause of death for Mr. Cernosek was documented by the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office as “toxic effect of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and codeine.” Further investigation showed that Mr. Cernosek had purchased fentanyl from a suspect, later identified as Christopher Michael McDermott. McDermott was arrested on September 13, 2023, for a separate warrant unrelated to the case. McDermott was allowed to post bond at the time as the death of Mr. Cernosek was still being investigated and there was not yet enough evidence to charge him with anything related to the case.

As the investigation continued, video surveillance footage, plain clothes surveillance, and witness statements solidified that McDermott was the suspect related to the death of Mr. Cernosek. Detectives executed multiple search warrants on phones and social media accounts, and located a key witness to confirm that McDermott was responsible for the death of Mr. Cernosek. On November 25, 2024, detectives with the APD Narcotics Support Unit issued an arrest warrant for McDermott for Manufacture of Delivery of Controlled substance Causing Death of Serious Bodily Injury, a 3rd Degree Felony. Mr. McDermott was arrested for this warrant on November 28, 2024.

On December 3, 2024, detectives with the APD Narcotics Support Unit executed a second warrant for McDermott to charge him with Murder, a 1st Degree Felony.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Austin Police Department at 512-974-TIPS. You may submit your tip anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting www.austincrimestoppers.org or by calling 512-472-8477.

This case is being investigated as Austin's 75th homicide of 2023.