Austin murder suspect released from prison for fatal stabbing in 2021

AUSTIN, Texas – Law enforcement officials are questioning why a murder suspect was released from jail tonight.

Mithovar Christopher Antoine Jr. was arrested for a fatal stabbing in South Austin in July 2021. The U.S. Marshals Office issued a warrant for murder and arrested him the next day in Temple.

On July 23, 2021, Nikolas Martinez dialed 911 after being stabbed to death on Friday evening.

Detective Richard Spitler of the Austin Police Department is working the case.

“The victim was able to escape the suspect, get into his vehicle and flee the scene from there,” said Richard Spitler. “He was able to drive to the gas station and get help.”

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Martinez drove to a Conoco gas station on South I-35 in southeast Austin, near his apartment complex. Emergency medical services and Travis County police responded to the scene and performed life-saving measures. Martinez later succumbed to his injuries from a stab wound to the neck.

“This was a random act of violence,” said Spitler. “There is no indication that the suspect in this case actually knew the victim.”

It wasn't until June 2024 that police finally had a lead on who the suspect in the case was. On Wednesday, September 11, an arrest warrant for first-degree murder was issued against Antoine Jr.

“Someone finally made contact and was able to identify a witness who was actually at the scene,” Spitler said.

Police arrested Antoine in Temple on Thursday, took him to the Bell County Jail and released him on bail four days later.

“Typically, as we've seen in various cases here, we get an average bail of $1 million in various murder cases,” Spitler said.

Instead, Antoine was released on $150,000 bail.

“I was surprised, as I think many others were, because it was a $150,000 bond,” Spitler said.

Since the murder occurred in Austin, prosecutors believe Antoine should have been extradited to Travis County.

“I also want to know because I know we have 10 days before they have to be released, ten days,” Spitler said. “But I understand that even within those ten days they can still be tried by a judge in that county and can still get bail from that judge.”

Sources told FOX 7 that he was able to leave the Bell County Jail because the judge set bail without conditions.

FOX 7 Austin has contacted both Bell County and Travis County multiple times to find out the name of the judge who issued the bail. Authorities were a bit confused as to who has the suspect's court records.