Austin teen pleas not guilty in death of Austin man in October 2021

An Austin teen who was one of two suspects charged in the death of an Austin man who was found dead in his residence on October 13th, 2021 is pleading not guilty in Mower County District Court.  

18-year old Nickalos Dewayne Taylor pleaded not guilty to three different felony charges, including aiding and abetting 2nd degree murder while committing a felony, without intent, aiding and abetting aggravated robbery, inflict bodily harm and aiding and abetting 1st degree assault.  Austin Police officers were called to a residence on the 800 block of 12th Avenue SE on Wednesday, October 13th, 2021 to investigate a death scene.  Chief of Police Dave McKichan stated in a news release that 75-year old William Hall, of Austin had been found deceased in his residence by those who delivered meals to him.

While officers were on the scene, McKichan stated that a concerned neighbor advised them that security cameras had captured several young males in the vicinity of Hall’s residence the day prior, Tuesday, October 12th.  The cameras also captured audio that indicated an encounter had taken place between Hall and the males.  The neighbor also reported finding a brandy bottle on his property and a holster for a firearm.  Chief McKichan stated that the brandy bottle was of the type that Hall had in his residence and later in the week, Hall’s family members reported that they were unable to locate some of Hall’s property that he was known to own, including a firearm.

Investigators were able to begin making some identification of the subjects involved based on images captured by the neighbor’s security cameras, and through various interviews, Chief McKichan indicated that authorities believe Hall was surprised by the party of young men who had come to the residence with the intent to steal from Hall.  During the encounter, investigators believe that Hall was pushed down, and when he attempted to get up, he was struck in the face.  Authorities believe the assault left Hall seriously injured in the area where he would be found deceased the following day.  After Hall was assaulted, investigators believe that several items were taken from the residence, and all of the suspects ran off afterwards.

18-year old Francisco Javier Lagunes Silva was the other suspect arrested in connection to Hall’s death, and he was charged with felonies for aiding and abetting second degree murder while committing a felony without intent, aiding and abetting aggravated robbery, inflict bodily harm and first degree assault.  Silva pleaded not guilty to all of the charges against him, and his trial in Mower County District Court is scheduled for May 9th.  

Taylor recently waived his right to a certification hearing and agreed to be charged as an adult for his alleged involvement in the murder, as he was 17 years old at the time of the incident.  Taylor is being held in the Mower County jail on $500,000 bond, and a trial for Taylor in Mower County District Court has been scheduled for June 20th.