On January 9, 2025, at approximately 1:44 a.m., Austin Police Department officers responded to a welfare check at 5707 Manor Road in East Austin. Upon arrival, they discovered the body of 35-year-old Kelly Meazell, a white female, lying in a pool of blood in the parking lot of an apartment complex. Despite immediate life-saving efforts, Meazell was pronounced dead at 2:11 a.m. Authorities noted signs of trauma around her neck, indicating a violent death.
Meazell was experiencing homelessness at the time of her death and was known to frequent the area where her body was found. Her half-sister, Katherine Stephens, shared that Meazell had recently mentioned finding a place to stay, making the news of her death particularly shocking. Stephens described Meazell as a caring and joyful person who was always laughing and happy.
The Austin Police Department's Homicide Unit launched an investigation into Meazell's death, which was classified as the city's second homicide of 2025. Detectives faced challenges in gathering information, as many individuals in the community were reluctant to come forward. To encourage tips, authorities emphasized the availability of anonymous reporting options through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program.
On January 16, 2025, the U.S. Marshals Lone Star Fugitive Task Force arrested 32-year-old Frank Henry Bonner Jr. at a bus stop near the intersection of Manor Road and Rogge Lane, close to the crime scene. Bonner was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Travis County Jail on a murder charge. He is being held on a $1 million bond.
The motive behind Meazell's murder has not been disclosed, and the investigation remains ongoing. Authorities continue to seek additional information and urge anyone with knowledge of the incident to contact the Austin Police Department at 512-974-TIPS or submit tips anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program.
