62-year-old Chelsea resident charged with capital murder

A Chelsea man is being held without bond at the Shelby County Jail in connection to a murder case, according to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.

According to a release, sent Friday around 3 p.m., 62-year-old Randall Anthony Gargone was charged with capital murder in the case of Tracy Ward Austin’s death.

Austin was found dead in his home in the 5800 block of Shelby County 39 on Monday, March 5, and the 68-year-old’s death had been ruled a homicide.

“His cause of death was he was stabbed as well as bludgeoned,” Sheriff John Samaniego said at a press conference on Friday.

Austin, his mother and his brother lived at the Chelsea residence, Samaniego said.

After Austin was identified as the murder victim, the sheriff’s office reached out to the public for any information that could further the investigation. 

“I have to thank the public for their overwhelming support. The tips coming into the Sheriff’s Office — some of them were very valuable,” Samaniego said. “That led to continue the investigation, allowed us to obtain some search warrants for certain locations where we gathered evidence and were able to charge Randall Gargone with capital murder today.”

Gargone was booked on Friday, according to the Inmate Listing function on the Sheriff’s Office website. He has previously been convicted of armed robbery and other felony offenses, and was on parole for two counts of armed robbery, Samaniego said. The fact that he was on parole for a felony at the time of the alleged crime was the reason for a capital murder charge, he said, and the courts set the case at no bond “to protect the citizens of Shelby County.”

Gargone was hired “some months back” as a handyman to do work around the Austin’s house, Samaniego said.

“We’ve kind of determined possibly it was a burglary,” Samaniego said. “This individual had knowledge of the house, came in to burglarize it, was surprised by Mr. Austin, and Mr. Austin was murdered.”

While an arrest has been made, Samaniego said there may be witnesses with useful information who have not come forward.

“Anybody that has any information, please feel free to bring it forward to us, no matter how insignificant you might think it is. Please bring it to us because it might be a key piece to the puzzle and allow us to get more evidence concerning this prosecution against Mr. Gargone,” Samaniego said.

The Sheriff’s Office can be contacted directly at 669-4181, through the Secret Witness line at 669-9116 or through shelbyso.com under “Report Criminal Activity” and “General Information.”