Austin police have arrested a man they believe is connected to the death of student Natalia Monet Cox.
Man killed Texas student in her apartment after two dates
Henry Watson, 24, is accused of killing Cox, a senior at Huston Tillot College in Austin, Texas, at 2:43 a.m.
on March 31.
Police responded to a report of a “terroristic threat” a week before the murder. Cox told police he had only met Watson three days earlier and had gone on two dates with him.
Then, in the early morning hours of March 31, police said Watson showed up with a gun at his apartment.
Cox allegedly wrote to Watson that he wasn’t feeling well and didn’t want her to come over, but Watson did anyway. Then, according to police, he heard a knock on his door. Cox asked Watson if he was there, and he replied, “Open the door.”
Watson allegedly said he had a gun and would shoot at the door if she didn’t open it.
A roommate, called police, and Cox continued to talk to Watson to calm him down, the affidavit said.
After that incident, on March 25, four days later, Cox received text messages from people who identified themselves as Watson’s relatives
One of them, who identified himself as Watson’s father, said Watson was “very suicidal” and wanted to talk to her about what happened.
But she did not respond.
He received another text message from the same number nearly 24 hours later, after meeting her at another apartment complex, and never responded, the affidavit said.
The Lone Star Fugitive Task Force found Watson in her car in a Round Rock parking lot, the affidavit said.
Authorities report this was the same vehicle that had been recorded in surveillance footage at the March 31 scene within a few minutes after the first 9-1-1 call.
Detectives say they found 9mm ammunition in Watson’s car when it was searched in April.
An autopsy determined Cox’s death was a murder by gunshot wounds. Watson is now charged with felony murder.
He is scheduled to appear in court June 10, records show.
