Law Enforcement Urges Public Assistance After DNA Connects Unsolved Killings in Austin and Bastrop County

Austin law enforcement is urgently seeking public assistance in identifying a suspected serial killer connected to the brutal murders of two women in the area. The Austin Police Department, along with multiple other agencies, is working diligently to track down the man responsible for the deaths of 34-year-old Alyssa Ann Rivera and 28-year-old Alba Jenisse Aviles. Both women were sexually assaulted and strangled, and authorities believe the same individual is behind both heinous crimes.

The case took a grim turn on June 21, when Austin police responded to a 911 call at an abandoned home located at 2600 Metcalfe Road, south of East Oltorf Street. Upon arrival, they discovered the lifeless body of Alyssa Ann Rivera inside. Detective Gabriel Guillen, the lead investigator, shared that Rivera had been strangled and sexually assaulted. Surveillance footage from the area showed Rivera walking with an unidentified man shortly before her death. Investigators now believe this man could be the person responsible for her murder.

Initially, law enforcement considered Rivera’s murder an isolated incident. However, on August 7, the case took a shocking turn when DNA evidence linked the unidentified man to a 2018 unsolved murder in Bastrop County. The victim in that case, Alba Jenisse Aviles, was similarly strangled and sexually assaulted. Aviles was killed on April 14, 2018, after leaving Club Caribe in Southeast Austin. Her body was found in her parked silver sedan on Old San Antonio Road by a passing driver.

The similarities between the two cases—both women were strangled and sexually assaulted, and both scenes bore similar characteristics—have led detectives to suspect a serial killer may be at large. Sgt. Nathan Sexton of the Austin Police Department emphasized that, while the victims did not know each other, the method of the killings strongly suggests they were perpetrated by the same individual.

The combined efforts of the Austin Police Department, the Bastrop County Sheriff’s Office, and the Texas Rangers are now focused on identifying the suspect through DNA analysis. Unfortunately, the man’s DNA does not match any profiles in the national Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), a fact that has perplexed investigators. As Sexton noted, it is relatively rare for someone who commits such violent crimes to have no prior arrests or detentions.

With the investigation intensifying, authorities are now appealing to the public for help. They urge anyone with information about either of the murders to come forward. Even the smallest detail could be crucial in identifying the suspect and bringing justice to the victims and their families.

The urgency of the situation cannot be overstated. The possibility that a serial killer is active in the Austin area has left the community on edge. Residents are encouraged to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity or potential leads to the Austin Police Department.

For those who wish to provide information, there are multiple ways to do so. Tips can be submitted directly to the Austin Police Department at 512-974-TIPS. Alternatively, those who prefer to remain anonymous can submit tips through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program, either online at austincrimestoppers.org or by calling 512-472-8477.

The efforts to catch the suspect are a testament to the dedication of law enforcement, who are working tirelessly to solve these cases. The collaboration between the Austin Police Department, Bastrop County Sheriff’s Office, and Texas Rangers underscores the seriousness of the investigation and the shared commitment to bringing the killer to justice.

As the investigation continues, the families of Alyssa Ann Rivera and Alba Jenisse Aviles are left to grapple with their devastating losses. Rivera and Aviles were both young women with their lives ahead of them, tragically cut short by a brutal killer. The impact of their deaths has rippled through their communities, leaving a trail of grief and a longing for justice.

The public’s role in solving these murders cannot be underestimated. Law enforcement is relying on the community to help piece together the clues that could lead to the suspect’s identification and capture. The importance of coming forward with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, is crucial in cases like this.

As the search for the killer continues, the Austin Police Department and other agencies remain steadfast in their commitment to solving these crimes. They are hopeful that with the public’s help, they will soon be able to bring the person responsible to justice and provide some measure of closure to the families of the victims.

Source: Austin American Statesmen