Son shocked to learn father indicted in 1985 Jacksonville murder

3 years ago 327

David Nelson Austin charged with 1st-degree execution successful sidesplitting of Leslie McCray, 17

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – After much than 35 years, a antheral has been indicted successful the execution of a Jacksonville teenager. Last week, David Nelson Austin was indicted connected a complaint of first-degree execution successful the stabbing decease of Leslie McCray, 17.

Austin’s son, Owen, told News4Jax connected Tuesday that he’s ne'er met his dad, who has been successful a Michigan situation for much that 30 years connected unrelated charges. They have, however, spoken via email.

A caller email Austin’s lad received from his begetter reads: “I bash person immoderate atrocious news. I don’t cognize truly cognize however to accidental it. I americium being charged with a acold lawsuit execution and kidnapping successful Florida from 1985.”

“When I heard murder, that was benignant of shocking,” Owen Austin said.

JSO said recently developed DNA evidenced linked David Austin to McCray’s murder.

Police said connected Christmas Eve successful 1985, she and her fellow woke up to a alien kneeling by their furniture with a knife. Her fellow was tied up and she was kidnapped from their flat successful Avondale.

Investigators said McCray was recovered stabbed to decease connected Old Middleburg Road conscionable hours later.

Owen Austin said his parents lived unneurotic successful Jacksonville astatine the clip -- earlier helium oregon his brothers had been born. He said his parent near and his begetter followed.

In Michigan, David Austin has been serving a beingness condemnation for convictions successful intersexual battle cases.

“I was calved and helium was already incarcerated, truthful I truly don’t stock immoderate affectional attachment different than embarrassment erstwhile I perceive his name,” Owen Austin said.

Owen Austin said his household unfastened up astir his father’s transgression past erstwhile helium became a teen, revealing much earlier his mother’s decease 2 years ago.

In the email helium sent his son, David Austin writes “No, I didn’t bash it. Does it substance astatine this constituent for maine to adjacent accidental that?”

The State Attorney’s Office said it’s moving to extradite David Austin to Florida.