For Immediate Release

AUSTIN, TX – The last of the 3 suspects wanted in connection with a double-homicide that appeared to be leaning towards a cold case was arrested on Monday, January 19, 2009. Melvin C. Avina, 33, considered armed and dangerous was arrested by the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force without incident.

The Austin Police Department earlier in the week, arrested Delia Marie Garcia, 38, and Darrell Walker, 21 for the double-homicide that occurred February 2008 at the Big Chief bar in the 1500 block of East 6th St. Crime Stoppers tips pointed Austin detectives to Walker as having been in involved in a recent string of violent taxi cab robberies in the city. Tipsters were able to help link Walker to the Big Chief murders.

Customer David Tavera, 47, and bar owner Ismael Contreras, 66, were shot and killed February 2008 in East Austin. Police believed the murders were the result of robberies that went bad. Garcia, Walker and Avina were charged with capital murder and are currently in the Travis County Jail.

The Lone Star Fugitive Task Force is comprised of officers from the Williamson, Travis, Hays, and Caldwell County Sheriff’s Departments, Austin Police Department and the U.S. Marshals.

LaFayette Collins, United States Marshal for the Western District of Texas, states, “The Lone Star Fugitive Task Force is committed to using all the resources at their disposal to hunt down fugitives who have no regard for the rule of law.”