A Texas man suspected of a cold case from 2021 was arrested last week for fatally stabbing a victim in Austin before being released on bail four days after being booked into jail.
Mithovar Christopher Antoine Jr., now 22, is accused of fatally stabbing Nikolas Martinez, 23, near the victim’s South Austin apartment complex in July 2021, according to Fox 7.
Martinez was playing video games with his nephew the day of the incident when he took a break to take out laundry from the common facilities of his apartment complex before being stabbed.
He then called 911 to report that he had been stabbed and went to a nearby gas station for help, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
TEXAS COPS FIND 6 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS BEHIND ‘FALSE WALL’ INSIDE TRAILER ON HOT DAY, DRIVER ARRESTED
Mithovar Christopher Antoine Jr., now 22, is accused of fatally stabbing Nikolas Martinez, 23, in July 2021. (Bell County Jail)
Martinez’s parents said two years ago they were upset by the lack of information released about who killed their son.
“We know that nothing will bring us [him] “We’re coming back,” Martinez’s father, Martin Martinez, told Fox 7. “Nothing’s going to make it better, but just not knowing is killing us.”
“We believe this is a random event that happened, and we don’t know why,” Wendy Martinez, Martinez’s mother, told the outlet. “So if anyone saw anything, please come forward.”
Last June, Austin police received an anonymous tip that they saw Antoine Jr. stab Martinez near a south Austin apartment complex, according to an arrest warrant, Fox 7 reported.
Last June, Austin police received an anonymous tip that they had seen Antoine Jr. stab Martinez near a south Austin apartment complex. (iStock)
Police executed another search warrant and discovered the suspect was looking for news articles related to stabbings in Austin just days after Martinez’s death.
Last week, law enforcement found Antoine Jr. in Temple. He was arrested and booked into the Bell County Jail. A judge set his bail at $150,000 and he was released on bail four days later.
Bell County officials told Fox 7 the suspect was released without being extradited to Travis County.
HOUSTON INFAMPERS POSE AS DOORDASH, TIE UP MOTHER IN FRONT OF CHILDREN BEFORE SHOOTOUT WITH OFFICER: POLICE
Police executed a search warrant and discovered that Antoine Jr. was searching for news articles related to stabbings in Austin just days after Martinez’s death. (Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Antoine Jr. was arrested for unauthorized use of a vehicle and burglary of a habitation in the two years before Martinez’s death, court documents show, according to Fox 7. He was released on bail two months before Martinez’s murder.
Since he was on parole, Bell County could revoke his probation and seek additional warrants for his arrest, which would send him back to prison.
A Travis County grand jury will still have to indict Antoine Jr. in Martinez’s murder.
