Shivangi Sinha
In the aftermath of Staff Sergeant Nathan Paet’s murder in December 2010, police arrested four individuals: Michael Rodriguez, Michelle Paet, Corry Hawkins, and Jessica Austin. Much of the case began to unravel thanks to a confession from a woman who had been with Rodriguez, Hawkins, and Austin on the night of the killing. Her statement helped authorities piece together key elements of the plot and gain insight into the motivations behind the crime. NBC’s ‘Dateline: The Last Day’ explores the details of the case, including how Hawkins and Austin became entangled in the deadly conspiracy.
The Police Searched Corry Hawkins and Jessica Austin’s Apartment For a Murder Case
Nathan Paet was found shot to death on the night of December 1, 2010, at his home in Mountain’s Edge, Nevada. His wife, Michelle Paet, and their children were still inside the house at the time. Although Nathan was rushed to the hospital, he could not be saved. Initially, the police had few leads to work with. The breakthrough came when a woman named Shannon Salliotte approached authorities with crucial information. She had previously been interviewed and had supported the alibi of Michael Rodriguez, the man suspected of having an affair with Michelle and already on the police’s radar as a potential suspect.
Shannon told the police that Rodriguez, Corry Alexis Hawkins, and Jessica Austin had allegedly been plotting Nathan Paet’s murder. She explained that Rodriguez was romantically involved with Michelle and that they hoped to gain from Nathan’s $650,000 life insurance policy and other assets. Shannon stated that on the night of the murder, the group had gathered at Austin and Hawkins’ apartment on the 2500 block of North Green Valley Parkway in Henderson, Nevada. The two of them were reportedly in a relationship at the time. According to Shannon, Rodriguez and Hawkins told her that they were heading out to commit a robbery and left in a black Cadillac owned by the former. After they returned, she claimed Austin started a fire in the apartment, and the men tossed their clothes into the flames.
Shannon alleged that after the men returned from their outing, Rodriguez asked her to go with him to a hotel, saying he needed her as an alibi. She insisted that she was only aware of a planned robbery, not a murder. The next day, when she returned to the apartment, she noticed a strong smell of bleach, which raised further suspicion. The police acted on this information and obtained a search warrant for Austin and Hawkins’ apartment. During the search, they recovered blue latex gloves and air fresheners. In December 2010, both were arrested on charges of conspiracy to commit murder, burglary while in possession of a deadly weapon, and murder with a deadly weapon. Hawkins faced an additional charge for possession of a firearm by an ex-felon, as he had nine prior convictions.
Corry Hawkins is Serving His Sentence and Jessica Austin is a Free Woman Today
In November 2011, Jessica Austin was released on house arrest while awaiting trial. She later changed her plea to guilty for felony conspiracy to commit murder. By October 2015, Corry Hawkins also pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including murder, conspiracy to commit murder, burglary, and possession of a firearm by an ex-felon. In September 2016, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Now 47, Hawkins is incarcerated at High Desert State Prison in Indian Springs, Nevada, where he is expected to spend the rest of his life. As for Austin, the specifics of her sentencing have not been made public, and it appears she is no longer in custody.
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