Austin man convicted on felony manslaughter charge in Mower County District Court

A third suspect involved in the beating death of an Austin man at his residence in October of 2021 has pleaded guilty in Mower County District Court.  

19-year old Francisco Javier Lagunes Silva of Austin was convicted Friday after pleading guilty to a felony charge of 2nd degree manslaughter, culpable negligence, creating unreasonable risk in the death of 75-year old William Hall, who was found dead in his Austin residence on October 13th, 2021, when people delivering meals discovered his body.  Court documents state that Hall died from blunt-force injuries with rib fractures and hemorrhaging of various organs.  

Authorities reported that Lagunes Silva, along with 22-year old Tyrone James Williams of Austin and 18-year old Nickalos Dwayne Taylor, also of Austin and a 12-year old male went to Hall’s residence to steal marijuana and wound up killing him.  Court documents stated that a neighbor’s security camera recorded several young males near Hall’s residence on October 12th and captured audio indicating an encounter had taken place between Hall and the young males.

Lagunes Silva had originally pleaded not guilty to the felony 2nd degree manslaughter charge, along with felony charges for aiding and abetting aggravated robbery, and aiding and abetting 1st degree assault on November 8th, 2021.  Sentencing for Lagunes Silva in Mower County District Court has been scheduled for January 19th.  

Williams and Taylor both previously pleaded guilty to a felony charge of 2nd degree manslaughter, culpable negligence, creating unreasonable risk, and sentencing for both men in Mower County District Court has been scheduled for December 16th.