Man guilty in 1985 Austin cold case

AUSTIN (KXAN) - A Travis County jury Thursday convicted Dennis Davis of murder for the 1985 beating death of his ex-girlfriend Natalie Antonetti.

Jurors deliberated just over three hours. Judge Mike Lynch is expected to sentence Davis on Monday.

The case remained cold for more than 20 years until Davis' wife contacted police in 2007 and said her husband confessed to "sinning against God."

Another ex-girlfriend told police Davis confessed Antonetti's killing to her in 1988, but she was afraid to come forward.

Antonetti was 38 years old when she was beaten to death in her Austin apartment while her teenage son slept nearby.

"I feel like justice has been served," said Johnny Goudie, who was 16 years old when his mother was murdered. "I just want to thank the cold case department, especially Detective Walsh for solving this case and letting us all sleep a little bit better tonight," he said just a few minutes after the verdict was announced.

Detective Tom Walsh was the APD Cold Case Investigator assigned to the case.

"The family feels pretty good- I feel pretty good about the verdict- and its over," said Walsh.

On October 13, 1985, Austin police were called to the 1200 block of Barton Springs Road to investigate an assault on a victim who was later identified as Antonetti.

At about 5:15 a.m., Antonetti’s roommate said she found her attacked and on the couch, bleeding from her head and slurring her speech. Police said EMS transported Antonetti to the hospital, where she died 18 days later from head injuries resulting from the attack.

The initial investigation went cold after authorities said they were unable to charge a suspect in this case.

Though Davis was previously interviewed at the time of the murder, he was never listed as a suspect.