Grandson of murdered Austin couple 'unstable,' relatives say

Relatives of an elderly south Austin couple found shot to death in their home Saturday afternoon told 911 operators that day they feared the couple’s grandson had harmed his grandparents, according to an arrest affidavit released Tuesday.

The affidavit did not provide an exact motive for the shootings, but relatives said Chevy Kyler Monaghan, 21, was “unstable” and in possession of a firearm.

A second 911 caller that afternoon reported that when they approached Monaghan to check on the couple, he discouraged them from entering the home, telling them the grandparents had had an argument and were “in their room getting mad at each other, you don’t want to see that,” the affidavit states.

Monaghan was arrested and charged with capital murder Saturday after police went to the home at 2303 Brookhill Drive to check on the welfare of Anthony Maxa, 76, and Shari Mallory-Maxa, 74. When officers arrived, the affidavit states, Monaghan exited the garage, lit a joint and opened a can of soda while “casually” telling them that his grandparents were inside the home without mentioning that they were dead.

Officers found the couple dead in the hallway of their home with multiple gunshot wounds. Evidence suggests that Anthony Maxa, who suffered six gunshot wounds, was shot at close range, while his wife was hit by three bullets, according to the affidavit. Police said the shot was fired at a “steep downward angle, as if the shooter was standing over the victims.”

Monaghan told a police officer that his grandfather had kicked him out of the house, the document said. Relatives told police they saw Monaghan moving his grandparents’ belongings into a car before their bodies were found. Inside the home, police found the couple’s bedroom had been “ransacked,” with empty dresser drawers and jewelry boxes strewn about the room.

Police also found a .380-caliber pistol “in the bedroom that appeared to belong to Monaghan,” which matched the shell casings found around his grandparents’ bodies, according to the affidavit. Investigators determined he purchased the gun at an Austin pawn shop on July 4.

Monaghan is being held in the Travis County Jail pending court proceedings. Bail has not been set. His attorney did not respond to requests for comment.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the Austin Police Department at 512-974-8477. Information can be submitted anonymously through Capital Area Crime Stoppers by visiting austincrimestoppers.org or by calling 512-472-8477.