Stab wound kills woman - 19 years later

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Four months ago, Frances Foster was found dead next to a building along East Seventh Street.

At the time, police did not suspect the 53-year-old was a homicide victim, but that's since changed because of the medical examiner's report.

When her body was found near a burned-down tire store, there were no visible signs of trauma, and no foul play was suspected at the time of her death.

However, an autopsy revealed she had an old stab wound. The interesting part about the case is that the medical examiner determined the wound was nearly 20 years old.

Police said she was stabbed in the summer of 1992. Preliminary reports show Foster and an unnamed man got into an argument in the 1100 block of Airport Boulevard. Foster was stabbed.

"At that time she was transported to the hospital," said Sgt. Joseph Chacon, with the Austin Police Department." The wound, at that time, was not considered life threatening. She made a full recovery from what everyone at the time could tell."

Foster's liver was lacerated during the stabbing. Police said she developed health issues that ultimately caused her death.

"In their estimation, it shortened the length of her life and because of that they have ruled it a homicide," said Sgt. Joseph Chacon, with the Austin Police Department. "We are treating it as a homicide."

This has led police to search for the person who stabbed her back in the early 90s. They discovered a person of interest from that stabbing incident, but no one was arrested or charged in the case. Police will not comment on who they are talking with now about the case.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Homicide Unit at (512) 477-3588 or Crime Stoppers at (512) 472-8477.

This case remains under investigation by APD Homicide detectives and is the city's 20th homicide of the year.