Austin, TX
Man stabs person to death, attempts to burn down home to destroy evidence
Zachary Salinas is accused of murdering John Ryan Kern in a house on Meridian Oak Lane in South Austin after which trying to burn the house right down to destroy proof. Photograph courtesy Austin Police Division.
AUSTIN, Texas – Police have made an arrest after an investigation right into a suspicious loss of life in South Austin.
The Austin Police Division has arrested 31-year-old Zachary Salinas in connection to the homicide of 36-year-old John Ryan Kern.
The incident started on March 19 at round 10:53 p.m. at a house within the 9000 block of Meridian Oak Lane when a 911 name was obtained from an individual saying their house was on fireplace.
APD officers and Austin Fireplace Division firefighters responded and when AFD entered the house they discovered Kern, who officers say appeared to have been stabbed. Kern died a short while later.
Investigators spoke with the person who reported the hearth and found that Kern was the person’s nephew and his roommate.
Suspicious loss of life in South Austin being investigated as murder
Officers say the incident started at 11 p.m. on March 19 within the space of Slim Glen and Meridian Oak.
A 3rd roommate, recognized as Salinas, was later positioned by officers.
Officers say that throughout the investigation it was decided that Salinas had stabbed Kern to loss of life within the house after which tried to burn it right down to destroy proof.
Salinas has been booked into the Travis County jail for first-degree homicide, first-degree arson, and tampering with proof.
The investigation continues. Anybody with any data is requested to contact the Austin Police Division at 512-974-TIPS. It’s possible you’ll submit your tip anonymously by way of the Capital Space Crime Stoppers Program by visiting austincrimestoppers.org or calling 512-472-8477.