David Villarreal
Friends and family members of gay Austin resident David Villarreal will gather outside his condo building tonight for a prayer vigil to remember the man who was killed two weeks ago.
Villarreal was found murdered in his condo on July 15. Matthew Henry Bacon, 26, is being held for his murder in Louisiana on a $500,000 bond.
Austin police told KVUE Bacon confessed to the murder, saying he wanted to steal electronics from Villarreal. And he admitted he’d wanted to kill someone.
“Bacon told us his mind had been telling him he wanted to kill someone for a while,” APD Sgt. Brian Miller said. “When the opportunity presented itself, he took that opportunity.”
Witnesses told police they saw Bacon and Villarreal leave gay club Oilcan Harry’s together. Video footage showed the two enter Villarreal’s condo building and later caught Bacon leaving alone. Police tracked Bacon to Louisiana last week through a credit card he stole from Villarreal. He was being held by local authorities on drug charges.
Matthew Henry Bacon
Bacon told police he used a hammer and knife to kill Villarreal and said he had the murder weapons in his car.
“He was almost apologetic. I think he was still trying to get it clear in his mind to try and figure why he did what he did,” Miller said.
While it’s unknown when Bacon will be extradited to Austin, police are preparing the case for prosecution.
Villarreal lived in Dallas for several years before moving to Austin.
The vigil will be at 8:30 p.m. Monday at the condos, 360 Nueces St. in Austin.