La’Rene Austin murdered her brief romantic partner, LaNell Barsock, in a jealous rage after their affair ended, then tried to frame Barsock’s boyfriend, Louis Bonheur. She was arrested after fleeing to Belize and has remained incarcerated since her 2012 extradition and conviction.
Case Background
Austin met Barsock via a Craigslist personal ad in 2010, quickly developing an intense romantic fixation despite knowing her only weeks. Barsock, a successful 29-year-old nurse living in a spacious Palmdale home, ended the affair to focus on her live-in boyfriend Bonheur, prompting Austin’s lethal response. On June 16, 2010, Austin shot Barsock in the head using a pillow to muffle the sound, dragged the body to the garage, and staged the scene before appearing at the sheriff’s station bloodied and accusing Bonheur.
Evidence Against Austin
DNA and a fingerprint from Austin were recovered at the scene, matching the gun type she owned. Text messages confirmed Barsock had rejected her romantically, fueling the motive. Bonheur’s alibi cleared him; he was verified elsewhere during the killing. A forged note implicating Bonheur in Barsock’s supposed infidelity was traced to Austin’s handwriting.
Bonheur and Barsock’s Relationship
Barsock and Bonheur, both immigrants (her from Cameroon roots, him from Haiti), met at school and shared a home, but faced strains from jealousy, finances, and her infidelity with others like Ike Umuna. Despite fights, friends described Barsock as kind and supportive.
Austin’s Current Status
As of January 2026, Austin serves a 25-years-to-life sentence at the Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla following her 2012 first-degree murder conviction. No recent parole developments are noted.
