Autopsy shows Coquille woman was strangled

Jayme Austin

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Story Published: Nov 15, 2009 at 3:01 AM PST

By Tim Novotny KCBY News

COQUILLE, Ore. -- Coos County District Attorney Paul Frasier says the results of an autopsy indicate that 31-year-old Jayme Austin was asphyxiated.

Patrick Horath, her brother-in-law, will be arraigned on murder charges Monday.

Austin went missing on Monday, Nov. 9. Her body was found buried Thursday night near Middle Creek Road, in the Fairview area of Coquille.

Horath, who had been helping in the search efforts through the week, was arrested Thursday night on a charge of murder. Within hours of the arrest, the shallow grave containing her body was discovered, some 17 miles from her home, in rugged, mountainous terrain.

The 45-year-old Horath stands 5-foot-6 and weighs about 190 pounds, according to Coos County Jail personnel. That is about 40 to 60 pounds more than Austin. Autopsy results from Saturday indicate the asphyxiation that killed her was caused by manual strangulation.

His house is located between Austin's home and her mother's, where she was headed that Monday morning to use her shower. Cindy Gisholt, Austin's mother, contacted police Monday after her daughter’s boss at Oregon Satellite in Coos Bay called to say she hadn't arrived for work. She had called them earlier to say she was running late.

It's expected that Horath will be arraigned Monday afternoon at the Coos County Courthouse in Coquille. He has been held without bail since his arrest.

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