Man to Stand Trial in Slaying of Teen
LAGUNA NIGUEL — A 20-year-old Anaheim man was ordered Tuesday to stand trial in Orange County Superior Court on Oct. 5 for allegedly slaying his former girlfriend, Melissa Allyson Austin, 16, of Mission Viejo.
After a preliminary hearing, Municipal Court Judge Ronald P. Kreber set the trial date for Richard Kenneth Nunno, who is charged with fatally shooting Austin as she sat in the family car in a warehouse parking lot in Mission Viejo either late June 13 or the early June 14. Austin’s parents had forbidden her to see Nunno.
Nunno, a grocery store clerk Austin met at Knott’s Berry Farm, was found later in his car parked in Laguna Beach with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest. Police believe Nunno attempted to kill himself.
At the time of her death, Austin was a sophomore at Mission Viejo High School.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
