A Texas man who was a suspect in a 2021 cold case was arrested last week for allegedly stabbing a victim to death in Austin and released on bail four days after being booked into jail.
Mitvah Christopher Antoine Jr., now 22, is accused of stabbing and killing Nicholas Martinez, 23, in July 2021 near the victim's apartment in South Austin. Fox 7.
On the day of the incident, Martinez had been playing video games with his nephew and was stabbed during a break when he tried to retrieve some laundry from the apartment's common areas.
He then called 911 to report he had been stabbed and drove himself to a nearby gas station to get help, but later died from his injuries.
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Mitvah Christopher Antoine Jr., now 22, is accused of stabbing and killing Nicholas Martinez, 23, in July 2021. (Bell County Jail)
Martinez's parents said two years ago they were outraged that no information had been released about their son's killer.
“I know nothing's going to happen. [him] “We're not coming back,” Martinez's father, Martin Martinez, told Fox 7. “Nothing can make the situation better, but the not knowing is what's hurting us.”
“I think it was just a coincidence. I don't know why,” Martinez's mother, Wendy Martinez, told the outlet. “So if anyone saw anything, I urge them to come forward.”
Fox 7 reported that in June, Austin police received an anonymous tip that someone witnessed Antoine Jr. stabbing Martinez to death near an apartment building in South Austin, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.
In June of this year, Austin Police received an anonymous tip that someone witnessed Antoine Jr. stabbing Martinez near an apartment in South Austin. (iStock)
Police executed another search warrant and discovered the suspects were looking for news articles about a stabbing that took place in Austin a few days after Martinez's death.
Police found Antoine Jr. in Temple last week, arrested him and booked him into the Bell County Jail. A judge set his bail at $150,000, and he was released four days later.
Bell County authorities told Fox 7 the suspect was released without extradition to Travis County.
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Police executed a search warrant and discovered Antoine Jr. had been looking for news articles about a stabbing that had taken place in Austin a few days after Martinez's death. (Getty Images)
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Court documents revealed that Antoine Jr. had been arrested two years before Martinez's death on suspicion of unauthorized use of a vehicle and trespassing, according to Fox 7. He was released on bail two months before Martinez was killed.
Because he was on probation, Bell County could revoke his probation and seek additional arrest warrants, which would put him back in prison.
A Travis County grand jury must indict Antoine Jr. for Martinez's murder.
