A Valentine’s Day welfare check at a South Austin home ended in a grim discovery when officers found two people dead inside, in what investigators say early evidence suggests was a murder-suicide. The deceased were identified as 39-year-old Megan Montgomery and 47-year-old Samuel Rios, and detectives say they believe Rios fatally stabbed Montgomery before taking his own life.
What police found
According to a timeline from authorities, officers were sent to a residence in the 6700 block of Windrift Way at 11:29 a.m. on Feb. 14 after a caller reported that Montgomery had not reported to work. Using a key provided by family members, officers entered the home, where they found both individuals with apparent trauma and pronounced them dead at the scene.
In a press release, the Austin Police Department said homicide detectives’ preliminary findings indicate Rios stabbed Montgomery, and that the case is being investigated as Austin’s eighth homicide of 2026. Anyone with information can call 512-974-TIPS or submit an anonymous tip to Capital Area Crime Stoppers.
Her role and memorial plans
Montgomery worked in communications for the Texas Attorney General’s Child Support Division, and her family shared an obituary with details about her life. That obituary, along with local reporting, notes that a celebration of life is scheduled at the Umlauf Sculpture Garden on Feb. 22 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., and that the family has requested donations to YMCA Southwest, Austin Pets Alive, or a domestic violence organization. Those details were reported by NTD.
Investigation and community reaction
Police have not publicly said whether Montgomery and Rios knew one another, and detectives are continuing to process the scene and gather evidence. Neighbors and local outlets have described the surrounding area as shaken in the wake of the discovery, while police have once again urged anyone with information to contact the tip line. As reported by FOX 7 Austin, investigators remain on the case and have released a few additional details…