New details revealed in case of man accused of killing grandparents in south Austin
AUSTIN (KXAN) — An arrest affidavit shed new details into the case of two grandparents who were shot and killed inside their south Austin home. Their grandson is facing a capital murder charge in connection with the shooting. It happened on Sept. 21 at a home on Brookhill Drive.
"Officers arrived and when they made entry into the home to do a welfare check, they located two obviously deceased individuals," Cpl. Matthew Nonweiler with the Austin Police Department previously said.
Family worried Monaghan 'might hurt them'
Inside, police found 76-year-old Tony Maxa, and his 74-year-old wife, Shari, dead.
An arrest affidavit said police were called to the home after a family member said Chevy Kyler Monaghan was "unstable" and the caller was concerned he "might hurt them."
Family told police they had been trying to reach the couple all morning.
When officers did arrive, arrest documents said Monaghan was walking out of the garage and putting things into his grandmother's car.
Documents state he was "being nonchalant" with officers, saying "he calmly sat down, lit a marijuana cigarette, and opened a soda can."
When officers asked where his grandparents were, Monaghan reportedly replied they were inside but never told officers they were dead. He also reportedly told officers his grandfather had "kicked him out," the affidavit said.
When officers did go inside, they found the couple dead, according to the affidavit.
Officers found blank checks, jewelry, ammo in car
Arrest papers said officers found ammunition inside Monaghan's pockets, along with some of his grandmother's jewelry and some of her prescriptions. Officers added the couple's bedroom had been ransacked.
Inside a car where Monaghan was reportedly taking items from the home, officers found more jewelry, blank checks and more ammunition.
An autopsy showed Shari was shot three times, while Tony was shot six times. In Tony's case, the coroner said he was shot from less than three feet away, the affidavit said.
"This is currently being investigated as Austin's 44th and 45th homicide," Nonweiler said.
KXAN has reached out to Monaghan's attorney. We will update this if a statement is received.
Police said the gun used was bought on July 4 by Monaghan from an Austin pawn shop.
In a statement to KXAN, the family said:
Tony and Shari are absolutely irreplaceable in so many ways to so many, but especially to their grandchildren, they lived for their grandchildren and made sure that each one of them felt like the most important person in the whole entire world. Shari was everyone's person and Tony was hers and together there was nothing they couldn't or wouldn't do for their family or friends. They didn't just make sure to be apart of every moment and memory no matter what, they always added that extra special personal touch of love that only Mammo and Papa could. We will never stop missing them, and we will never be completely whole again without them. Please lift up all those mourning these unimaginable losses with us, especially their grandchildren.
Monaghan family
Vigil planned for Saturday
A vigil is planned Saturday at Garrison Park, 6001 Manchaca Road in Austin, at 7 p.m.
An online notice listed the couple's funeral is planned for Oct. 3.