AUSTIN — Several Austin homes have been taped off and searched as part of an ongoing investigation into the homicide of an Austin man, law enforcement officials said today.
Mower County Sheriff Terese Amazi said the homes were related to the ongoing murder investigation of David Madison, 39, of rural Austin.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension's crime lab spent much of the day at a home in the 400 block of South Main Street on Thursday. Investigators were seen collecting evidence from a trash can and taking photographs and measurements of the property.
The Mower County Sheriff's Office also blocked off a residence at the corner of Eighth Street Northeast and Third Avenue Northeast. Amazi said the two homes are related to the homicide investigation, but she could not say how the two properties were connected. The police tape has since been removed from both residences.
"There is no threat to public safety," Amazi said during a press conference. "That's an important message to get out there."
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Amazi would not release any additional information, including how Madison was killed. She refused to say if authorities had a suspect in the case.
Madison's body was found in the Cedar River along Highway 105 on Sunday by three people who were fishing on a private property between County Road 4 and County Road 5 on the east side of the road. The medical examiner had determined the cause of death was a homicide earlier this week.
He was found fully clothed about 10 feet from shore in 3 feet of water and apparently was in the water overnight. It was not stated whether Madison was murdered near where he was found or if he was placed there.
Madison's car was found Monday near a home in the 2000 block of Fifth Avenue Northeast in Austin.
The sheriff's office has said Madison was last seen alive between 10 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. Saturday in the downtown Austin area.
Amazi said more information would follow.
