A Solano County Superior Court jury on Wednesday found a 35-year-old Vallejo man guilty of killing his girlfriend in 2016.
Troy Lamar Austin heard the choice of the 12-member panel in Division 23 on the Vallejo Justice Building that he committed the first-degree murder of Samantha Rhone.
Judge John B. Ellis, who presided over the month-long trial, then scheduled a trial in Austin over a previous strike that, if proven true, would likely affect the defendant's sentencing. The court hearing, through which a judge will resolve the final result, was scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Friday. However, as of press time later within the day, official court records had not yet been posted online.
According to court records, Austin and Rhone had been in a relationship for about five years during which the victim suffered additional episodes of domestic violence, in accordance with Solano County District Attorney Krishna Abrams, whose office issued a news release late Thursday.
On the night of the murder, May 19, several people in the world of Wallace Avenue in Vallejo heard a girl's cries for help and what seemed like beatings.
Two people looked out the second floor windows and saw defendant attacking Rhone. They saw him “kicking and stomping on her more than 20 times as she lay there, losing and losing consciousness,” in accordance with the prepared statement.
All individuals called 911. Vallejo law enforcement officials arrived on scene and the defendant fled.
When officers arrived, Rhone was out and in of consciousness, but was capable of tell officers that Austin had hit her. She was taken to the hospital. Emergency surgery was performed, but attributable to the extent of internal bleeding from blunt force trauma, she died from her injuries.
Austin was found hiding in a neighbor's backyard. He gave a false name when he was arrested. Austin admitted that he “freaked out” and hit Rhone because “she wasn't listening,” the discharge said.
Austin has been in custody in Solano County for the reason that murder, in accordance with the district attorney's office. On June 23, 2022, he was declared unfit to face trial, but on December 29, 2023, he was found to be legally competent, i.e. capable of assist in his defense. The criminal proceedings were resumed.
Assistant District Attorney Ilana Shapiro led the prosecution. Robert Greenberg was the lead investigator for the prosecution.
If you – or someone you understand – is a victim of domestic violence and desires an attorney, call (707) 784-6827. Abrams, Solano County's top law enforcement officer and a longtime advocate for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, noted within the statement.
Austin's ruling comes during National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October.
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