In the quiet community of Madison Heights, Virginia, the life of 83-year-old John Bell Austin Sr. came to a tragic and unexpected end on October 1, 2019. A beloved member of his community and a faithful member of the St. Paul Baptist Church in Forest, Virginia, John was known for his love of the outdoors, particularly hunting and fishing, and his deep devotion to his family and church.
His peaceful life was shattered that Tuesday afternoon when Amherst County deputies responded to a report of a shooting at his residence on Riverview Road.
Upon their arrival, deputies discovered Mr. Austin deceased in the back of his house, having suffered from gunshot wounds. The investigation into his death quickly led to a shocking revelation. His son, 47-year-old Chris Austin, had reportedly gone to a neighbor's house and confessed to the shooting. This stunning admission resulted in Chris Austin's immediate arrest.
The community was left reeling from the news, as such violent events were a rarity in Amherst County. Sheriff E.W. Viar publicly expressed the community's distress over the incident. Chris Austin was subsequently charged with second-degree murder in connection with his father's death and was held without bail. Due to the familial relationship between the victim and the accused, the case was set to proceed through the Juvenile and Domestic Courts. The motive for the shooting remained under investigation, with search warrants being sealed to the public. The death of John Bell Austin Sr. left a profound void in the lives of his family, including his other children, grandchildren, and siblings, who remembered him as a devoted father, grandfather, and brother.
