Austin Police Department, ATF, and FBI Seek Information on Package Bomb Murders
Chief Brian Manley, Austin Police Department (APD); Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Christopher Combs, San Antonio Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and SAC Frederick J. Milanowski, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Houston Field Division, announced the three agencies are now offering a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the package bombs which recently injured and killed several Austin residents. An additional $15,000 reward has been offered separately through Texas Crime Stoppers.
More than 500 law enforcement personnel are actively involved in the investigation. Homicide detectives, bomb technicians, forensic mappers, chemists, intelligence and forensic analysts, K9 explosive and accelerant detection teams, evidence recovery teams, the FBI’s Critical Incident Response Group, and the ATF’s National Response Team are all collaborating to identify those responsible.
The investigation is focusing on three package bomb explosions which killed two and injured two victims. Authorities believe the three incidents are related.
On Friday, March 2, 2018 at approximately 6:55 a.m., 39-year-old Anthony Stephan House was killed after he handled a box left on his front porch at his residence in the 1100 block of Haverford Drive.
On Monday, March 12, 2018 at approximately 6:44 a.m., 17-year-old Draylen William Mason was killed and his 41-year-old mother was critically injured after she opened a package left on the front porch of her residence at the 4800 block of Oldfort Hill Drive, Austin, Texas.
Later that Monday morning, at approximately 11:50 a.m., a 75-year-old Hispanic female was critically injured when she handled a package left near her home in the 6700 block of Galindo Street, in the Montopolis Neighborhood, Austin, Texas.
Authorities are seeking any information regarding person(s) responsible for the deaths and injuries. Anyone with information is urged to contact the TIPS Hotline 512-472-TIPS (8477) or 1-800-893-8477. Tips can also be submitted online via APD’s free mobile app, available on iPhone and Android. Individuals who provide information may remain anonymous.
Officials remind members of the public to remain vigilant and not touch, move, or handle any suspicious or unknown packages, but to call the nearest law enforcement agency.
