Chief Brian Manley, Austin Police Department (APD); Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Christopher Combs, San Antonio Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and SAC Frederick J. Milanowski, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Houston Field Division, continue to dedicate an increasing number of investigative resources to address the recent package bomb murders and injuries in East Austin.
More than 500 law enforcement personnel are actively involved in the investigation. Homicide detectives, bomb technicians, forensic mappers, chemists, intelligence and forensic analysts, K9 explosive and accelerant detection teams, evidence recovery teams, the FBI’s Critical Incident Response Group, and the ATF’s National Response Team are all collaborating to identify those responsible.
In a press conference on Sunday, APD Chief Brian Manley announced the reward has been raised to $100,000, in addition to the $15,000 reward being offered by Gov. Greg Abbott’s office.
The investigation is focusing on three package bomb explosions which killed two and injured two victims. Authorities believe the three incidents are related.
On Friday, March 2, 2018 at approximately 6:55 a.m., 39-year-old Anthony Stephan House was killed after he handled a box left on his front porch at his residence in the 1100 block of Haverford Drive.
On Monday, March 12, 2018 at approximately 6:44 a.m., 17-year-old Draylen William Mason was killed and his 41-year-old mother was critically injured after she opened a package left on the front porch of her residence at the 4800 block of Oldfort Hill Drive in Austin, Texas.
Later that Monday morning, at approximately 11:50 a.m., a 75-year-old Hispanic female was critically injured when she handled a package left near her home in the 6700 block of Galindo Street in the Montopolis Neighborhood, Austin, Texas.
Authorities are seeking any information regarding person(s) responsible for the deaths and injuries. Anyone with information is urged to contact the TIPS Hotline 512-472-TIPS (8477) or 1-800-893-8477. Tips can also be submitted online via APD’s free mobile app, available on iPhone and Android. Individuals who provide information may remain anonymous.
