Case:            20-2311218

Date:            Tuesday, August 18, 2020
 
Time:            8:42 p.m.

Location:      5800 block of Mojave Dr.

Deceased:    Unidentified person 

On Tuesday, August 18, 2020, at approximately 8:42 p.m., Austin 9-1-1 received a call regarding a body that was buried in the backyard of a residence, located in the 5800 block of Mojave Drive. APD officers and a homicide detective responded to the location and made contact with the residents. APD talked to the residents about the information that was received by 9-1-1. Officers received consent to look through the house. In the backyard, there appeared to be an area where a body could have been buried. The officers then secured the location and a search warrant was obtained.

On Wednesday, August 19, the search began. Homicide detectives, crime scene specialists, APD Bomb Squad and Austin Fire assisted in the excavation. By afternoon, a deceased person was recovered from the backyard. The Travis County Medical Examiner’s office transported the decedent to their office for examination.

The death is being treated as suspicious. Detectives have identified persons of interest in this case. This incident appears to be isolated to those involved with no threat to the public. An official ruling as to the official cause and manner of death is pending from the medical examiner’s office. The identity of the decedent will be released once the next of kin is notified.

Detectives are asking anyone with video/photos of the incident to call APD Homicide at 512-974-TIPS, the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at 512-472-8477 (TIPS), use the new Crime Stoppers App, or email APD Homicide at homicide.apd@austintexas.gov. You may remain anonymous. You can also submit tips by downloading APD’s mobile app, Austin PD, free on iPhone and Android.