AUSTIN, Texas — Two Austin-area families are calling on officials to bring justice to their loved ones. Parents and grandparents are wondering why the accused murderer of their family members isn't behind bars.
The two families are connected by tragedy, still waiting for answers.
"He was the light of everybody's life. He was one of those people that when he walked into the room, his smile, his twinkling eyes," said Margo Collins-Draine about her grandson, Trevon Fox.
Fox would have turned 32 on Wednesday. He was shot and killed in North Austin in 2017.
"The young man, DeAndre, took off, left his car there. Of course, Trevon's injuries were severe and he died at the scene," Collins-Draine said.
The suspect in Fox's case, according to court records, was Deandre Conner. Collins-Draine said her grandson was shot after an argument. But four months after Fox's death, Conner's case was dismissed.
"You know, it hurts. It really hurts. I think of him every day. Every night. You know, I'm praying and I'm praying that our family can get justice," Collins-Draine said.
The Rogers family said they have that same prayer.
"Someone just rolled up on him and shot eight shots out of the car," said David Rogers, the father of Jonathan Rogers.
David Rogers lost his son in 2018 after he was shot. The suspect in this case is also Deandre Conner, according to arrest affidavits from 2021.
"The girlfriend came forward three years afterwards and she said she knew who did it, and they sent out the task force," David Rogers said.
The Travis County Sheriff's Office confirmed to KVUE that Conner has been out of jail since June of 2022. He was placed on house arrest, and current court records show Conner is due back in court for Jonathan Rogers' death, in January 2024.
David Rogers said he feels like his family is being let down.
"It seems like the system doesn't really help Mexicans. Tejanos, you know, Black people, we get we get treated different," he said.
Both families say they are there for each other and hope justice comes soon.