An 84-year-old Texas man has been charged with first-degree murder after allegedly killing his roommate and her dog, authorities said.
Police in Austin, Texas responded to a call of a dead person at a home in the city's University Hills area on Monday afternoon. News release from the departmentAustin Police Department officers found a deceased woman and dog inside the home. The woman was later identified as 83-year-old Linda Mlesna, the department said.
APD Detective Israel Pina described the scene as a “very, very brutal attack.” According to CBS affiliate CBS AustinPolice said this is the 63rd murder in the city this year.
While investigating Mlesna's death, homicide detectives discovered that there was no trace of her roommate. According to CBS Austin reports, Jack Moore was a mutual friend of Mlesna's son, and he stayed as a roommate when Mlesna's son moved away. Lupita Diaz, a neighbor who lives across the street from the home, told CBS Austin that Mlesna had become uncomfortable living with Moore.
Austin Police Department
“Maybe a month ago she told me she didn't feel comfortable with him,” Diaz said.
CBS Austin reported that APD's Tactical Intelligence Unit and the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force arrested Moore on an unrelated warrant related to the carjacking. Investigators discovered that Moore had been using Mlesna's credit card to make purchases after her death.
APD said Moore confessed during an interview with detectives to killing Mlesna and her dog, taking the credit cards and planning to flee the country.
Moore was arrested and booked into the Travis County Jail on charges of first-degree murder. He is being held on $1 million bail, CBS Austin reports. The station also reported that Moore has a criminal history and has served prison time, but police told the affiliate that there had been no domestic violence-related calls at the Mlesna home.
“We should not underestimate anyone. He is 84 years old,” Pina said. “But you can't predict who is dangerous and who isn't. It's upsetting that you never know who you're actually bringing with someone who lives with you unless you check them thoroughly. If you don't, or you won't find out, give them your whole life.”