Man pleads guilty to 2022 murder near Domain

AUSTIN, Texas - The murder trial of Gavin Roberts was originally supposed to begin on Monday, Feb. 5 in Austin, however, he pleaded guilty instead.

Roberts was going to be tried for the murder of Justin Haden, and instead took a plea deal.

Haden was last seen alive in the early morning hours on Nov. 1, 2022.

MORE: Murder suspect reveals new details in stabbing death of Justin Haden: Affidavit

Gavin Roberts goes on trial for murder

Gavin Roberts is charged with the murder of Justin Haden and tampering with human remains. Roberts' trial is scheduled to start on Jan. 30, 2024.

An arrest affidavit said video showed Haden and Roberts going into Haden's apartment on Halloween night. Roberts left the next day struggling with a plastic bin with a suitcase on top.

Seventeen days later, Roberts called Austin police from Colorado and said he was with Haden on Halloween night, but said he didn't know where he was.

MORE: Body found in WilCo is missing Austin man Justin Haden: APD

Body found in WilCo may be missing Austin man Justin Haden: APD

On Nov. 23, US Marshals arrested Gavin Roberts, 26, who was wanted by the Austin Police Department (APD) for tampering with physical evidence of a human corpse.

A week and a half later, police said Roberts admitted to stabbing Haden and told them where to find the body.

Roberts was sentenced to 50 years in prison.

The Domain Crime and Public Safety