Texas woman found burned alive on Austin roadside, manhunt underway

Melissa Davis, 33, was discovered dead by firefighters on September 29 while responding to calls of a grass fire near Mesa Drive and Cat Mountain Drive around 5 am.

Police officers responding to the scene said they "smelled a strong odor of accelerant" near Davis's body which was located in a grassy area next to a fence, according to Daily Mail.

Detectives discovered a barely-used lighter on the ground next to the crime scene, and a police K9 dug up a butcher knife that they believe was buried by the suspect. An autopsy confirmed that Davis's cause of death was burned alive.

No arrests have been made and Austin police have not announced a person of interest but authorities say they are on the hunt for at least one suspect.

The Austin Police Department obtained a search warrant to access Davis's cellphone records and is hoping the information will lead them to the suspect. Police are also trying to locate her vehicle, a blue Toyota 4Runner, that was missing from the crime scene.

Police said that on the day before the homicide, Davis had left her mother's house in the Circle C area to go to the Apple Store to get her phone fixed. Authorities did not locate her phone at the crime scene.

Ellie Simmons, the best friend of Davis, told KVUE that Davis was a "free spirit" who "had more of a zest for life than I think anyone else."

"And we actually had dreams together with one of our other friends to start a hostel in Costa Rica and we would have an art station. She painted. She loved art," Simmons said.

Austin Police is offering a $1,000 reward for information that may lead to the suspect's whereabouts, according to a Facebook post the department issued on Oct. 6.

"On Friday, September 29, 2023, at approximately 5:08 am., the Austin Fire Department (AFD) responded to reports of a grassfire in the 6300 block of Mesa Drive. Upon arrival, AFD located a deceased person with trauma to the body. The Austin Police Department (APD) was notified and responded to the scene," Austin police wrote.

"Homicide Detectives and Crime Scene Specialists responded to process the scene and interview witnesses. During the investigation, the deceased individual was identified as Melissa Davis. This investigation is still active and ongoing."

"Anyone with any information should contact the Austin Police Department at 512-974-TIPS. You may submit your tip anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting austincrimestoppers.org or calling 512-472-8477. A reward of up to $1,000 may be available for any information that leads to an arrest," they added.