APD: Serial Attacks, Murder Suspect Found Dead

Austin Police says the man who is suspected of attacking several women and murdering one is dead.

James Loren Brown, 31 lived in an apartment located in the 3000 block of Guadalupe. They say he has been preying on women since July.

Sketches of his face were posted on almost every telephone pole in the area. Police believe it was the intense pressure that caused him to ultimately end his life.

Police say on Jan. 12, Brown’s roommate came home to find him dead. Homicide detectives estimate he killed himself around Jan. 5, five days after two women were attacked in the area and one murdered.

When homicide detectives arrived, they noticed that he resembled the composite sketches. Tests revealed that his DNA matched at least five sexual assault cases. Those attacks date back to July of 2011.

Police say Brown assaulted two women along South Congress and another at S. 1st Street and Barton Springs Road.

In September, Police say he attacked again off Comal and Haskell Street.

The most recent attack happened on Jan. 1. Police say Brown choked a woman inside her home on 31st St. That same morning a woman was knocked down by a man at 31st St and King St. and Esme Barrera was murdered.

Brown lived .2 miles from Barrera’s home. Police say he is a suspect in her murder.

Detectives say Brown had been in Austin for one year. He was working at a restaurant off Lady Bird Lake. He was in the military prior to being here. The only thing on his record was a traffic ticket.

Police urge anyone who knew James Loren Brown, particularly anyone who may have received or brought property from him, to call the homicide tipline at 512-477-3588.