Nicklas Kinslow, a 32-year-old man, was found dead on August 19, 2020, in Austin, Texas. His body was discovered buried beneath concrete in the backyard of a residence on Mojave Drive. The Austin Police Department determined that Nicklas Kinslow died of multiple gunshot wounds, and his death was classified as a homicide. The investigation revealed that Kinslow had been involved in a tumultuous relationship with Kristie Cardenas, a 36-year-old woman, who was his ex-girlfriend.
According to court documents, Cardenas had been subjected to abuse by Kinslow, which ultimately led to the tragic events that unfolded.
On August 18, 2020, a witness reported to the police that Cardenas had shown her the location where Kinslow's body was buried in the backyard. The witness also mentioned that Cardenas had confessed to the murder, stating that it had occurred inside the house. Walker Kaatz, a 22-year-old man, was also implicated in the crime. Kaatz had been living with Cardenas at the time and had assisted in disposing of Kinslow's body. He showed the witness drag marks where they had removed the body from the house and mentioned that they had used bleach to clean the area.
Both Kristie Cardenas and Walker Kaatz were arrested and charged in connection with the murder of Nicklas Kinslow. Cardenas faced charges of tampering with evidence and murder, while Kaatz was charged with tampering with evidence and a first-degree felony. During the investigation, it was revealed that Kinslow had been released from jail approximately two weeks before his death and had assaulted Cardenas multiple times since his release. Kaatz had witnessed these assaults, including instances where Kinslow strangled and dragged Cardenas by her hair.
In January 2023, both Cardenas and Kaatz reached plea agreements with prosecutors. They pled guilty to lesser charges of tampering with evidence with the intent to impair a human corpse. As a result, the murder charges against them were dismissed. Kaatz was sentenced to three years in state prison, while Cardenas received five years of deferred adjudication, or probation. The case highlighted the complexities of domestic violence and the tragic consequences that can arise from such situations.
