Sheriff’s Office identifies homicide victim as 68-year-old Chelsea resident

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office has identified the 68-year-old victim of a homicide that took place earlier this week, according to a press release sent on Wednesday.

According to the release, the victim was identified as Chelsea resident Tracy Ward Austin, and officials have determined his death was a homicide.

On Monday, March 5, sheriff’s deputies arrived at a residence in the 5800 block of Shelby County 39 to investigate a reported death, according to the release, and discovered that one of the residents was dead.

The coroner’s office and sheriff’s investigators are working to investigate the cause of Austin’s death and who may be responsible, according to the release, but need the public’s help. Austin died sometime on Monday, according to the Sheriff's Office, and the home is located close to the intersection of Shelby County 69 and 39.

“Someone may be a witness without knowing it,” the release said.

Anyone who traveled those roads around 7 a.m. is encouraged to reach out to the Sheriff’s Office. They 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.”

Tips through CrimeStoppers will also be accepted at 254-7777.

Editor's note: This article was updated at 3:16 p.m. on March 7 to reflect that the intersection was Shelby County 69 and Shelby County 39.