APD: Man arrested, connected with homicide after man found dead in east Austin field

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A 22-year-old was arrested Wednesday after a man was found dead in an east Austin field earlier this week, according to the Austin Police Department.

The man arrested was identified as Jose Duron, according to police. Attorney information was not listed for Duron. We will update if that changes.

The homicide case began to unfold on July 13, after a 911 caller reported a woman jumped out of a vehicle and was "screaming for help" in the 7300 block of Duval Street in central Austin, APD said. Officers added the caller said a man was also seen "waving a gun around."

Officers responded to the scene and spoke with the woman, who told them she and her boyfriend "picked up an acquaintance named 'Joey.'" That man was later identified as Duron, according to police.

The woman told police Duron was in the backseat of the vehicle, when "he shot her boyfriend," who was later identified as 41-year-old Steven Conn, according to police. The woman said she was "in fear of being shot." She added that after she jumped out of the vehicle, Duron then moved into the driver's seat of the vehicle and drove away with Conn still in the vehicle.

Going into July 14, APD began looking for Conn and came across the vehicle that was found in southeast Austin. However, no one was in the vehicle, and police said "blood was found inside."

APD had warrants for aggravated robbery and aggravated kidnapping for Duron as the search continued for Conn. Additionally, police released public information on Conn and said his safety and well-being was of "extreme concern."

Then, on July 15, investigators followed "digital trails of devices" that were left in the vehicle, which then led to "more than 200 acres of fields over the next two days searching for Conn."

Later that evening, police found a body in a field just north of 6400 Loyola Lane in east Austin, according to APD. Police identified that body as Conn and said he was "clearly deceased."

APD changed the warrants to capital murder for Duron. Police said he was found in north Austin on July 16 and was taken into custody.

This is now being investigated as Austin's 33rd homicide of 2025, according to APD.

No other details were released, and the homicide remained under investigation Thursday.