Houston murder-suicide: Suspect who killed girlfriend was out on bond for 2019 murder
Houston: Man behind murder-suicide was waiting for murder sentence, records show
An attorney tells FOX 26 that his client, Austin Collette, killed his girlfriend and himself at a Downtown Houston apartment. FOX 26's Jade Flury went through Collette's criminal history.
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas - The male involved in a murder-suicide in a Downtown Houston apartment was out on bond for a murder charge.
Attorney Kent Schaffer confirmed to FOX 26 his client, 26-year-old Austin Collette, was the suspect who killed his girlfriend before turning the gun on himself.
Who is Austin Collette?
The backstory:
According to court records, in December 2024, Collette pleaded guilty to the murder of Thomas Simmons.
He was out on a $250,000 bond and, based on documents, had violated his bond conditions several times.
Collette had been charged with murdering Simmons on Nov. 14, 2918 at Motel Crown Inn at 15707 Eastex Freeway.
Records show Simmons agreed to show up to the motel in order to make a drug deal.
Simmons got into a verbal and physical altercation with Collette and one other suspect before getting inside Collette's vehicle. It then appears Simmons was shot several times and pronounced dead at the scene.
Collette was expected to appear back in court on April 21.
PREVIOUS STORY: Two found dead in suspected murder-suicide, Houston police say
According to Crime Stoppers, Collette was also on probation in Jefferson County for possession of fraudulent information.
"The court knowingly allowed him to be on probation in another county, all be it, while on bond for murder. Then allowed him to plead guilty to murder and still allowed him to remain on bond even though he was already on probation. You can’t script this insanity," said Andy Kahan, of Crime Stoppers.
Despite multiple curfew and ankle monitor violations, Collette was still not in custody.
"Especially when he pled guilty to murder, he should have been taken into custody because you’re already still on probation awaiting sentencing and obviously that decision cost this young lady her life," said Kahan.
1810 Main Apartments murder-suicide
Houston: Man, woman found dead in suspected murder-suicide at apartment complex
Officials say two people were found dead in a Main Street apartment on Thursday morning.
What we know:
The Houston Police Department was called to the scene after receiving a 911 call stating a man had just killed his girlfriend.
They found a 21-year-old woman dead from a gunshot wound at the scene. Collette was also found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
What we don't know:
The woman has not been identified at this time.
Get news, weather and so much more on the new FOX LOCAL app
The Source: Information from this article was gathered from the Houston Police Department, Harris County court records, and previous FOX 26 reports.