Bloody footprints led police to son accused of stabbing father to death in front yard

Background: The gated community in Travis County, Texas, where police say Hayden Lerond murdered his father, James Lerond, on July 1, 2024 (KVUE/YouTube). Inset: Hayden Lerond (Travis County Sheriff’s Office).

It was like something out of a horror movie: After Hayden Lerond of Texas allegedly stabbed his father to death in such a vicious frenzy that he broke his 51-year-old dad’s ribs and left an 8-inch cut that punctured his jugular vein, police said they found the 22-year-old by following his bloody footprints.

In a statement from the Austin Police Department, officers said they responded a home on Windrift Way on July 1 after receiving multiple calls about a stabbing occurring just before 6 p.m. in the front yard of the Lerond home.

When emergency medical services showed up and police followed, officers said they spotted “footprints leading to the garage of the home and ultimately into the living room.” Austin ABC affiliate KVUE , citing an arrest affidavit, reported that the trail of blood footprints lead away from the body to the home.

“When officers entered to check welfare, they located another male, later identified as Hayden Lerond, lying on the floor with blood on his knees,” police said.

After he allegedly refused questioning, investigators determined the 22-year-old was to be detained and charged with first-degree murder .

Public arrest records from the Travis County Sheriff’s Office show that the Hayden Lerond is booked at the Travis County Correctional Complex on a $200,000 bond. Court records from Texas’ 427th District show Lerond has been appointed counsel and that as of July 5, he has filed a request to be considered indigent.

The next time he appears in court will be August 5.

His attorney did not immediately return a request for comment to Law&Crime on Wednesday.

A neighbor who called police said they heard someone yell out “He stabbed me!” the night that Lerond was found bleeding profusely in his yard, KVUE reported.

Neighbors described an allegedly gruesome scene: Hayden Lerond’s father was reportedly in the yard twitching from the attack as his son stood above him with blood everywhere and clutching the alleged murder weapon — a large silver knife.

KVUE reported that the 51-year-old man was stabbed at least seven times in the chest and with such force, his ribs were broken.

There was also a cut that ran 8 inches along James Lerond’s neck. His son is accused of puncturing his jugular vein.

Attempts were made to save James Lerond’s life by the Austin Fire Department and Austin-Travis County EMS, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene at 6:05 p.m. — just 26 minutes after police first received the call about the stabbing.

At this time, it is unclear what may have motivated the alleged slaying. Officers said Hayden Lerond would not answer questions when they found him.

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