ST. LOUIS, MO  (June 4, 2026) — Austin Fitzgerald, 61, was sentenced Thursday to 25 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections after pleading guilty to first-degree kidnapping, second-degree attempted kidnapping, first-degree sexual abuse, three counts of fourth-degree assault, second-degree assault, third-degree assault, three counts of armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon, and unlawful possession of a weapon for offenses committed during three separate incidents in and around Tower Grove Park over a two-day period in August 2025.

On the morning of August 1, 2025, Fitzgerald approached a 23-year-old woman who was walking through Tower Grove Park while talking on the phone and struck her in the face.

Later in the afternoon, on August 1, 2025, officers responded to a call for help and located two female victims, ages 25 and 26, near the 3900 block of Main Drive in the City's Shaw neighborhood. EMS transported both victims to a local hospital. The victims were at Tower Grove Park when Fitzgerald approached them from behind with a firearm and forced the 25-year-old victim into his vehicle and drove away. While driving, Fitzgerald placed the firearm in his lap, sexually assaulted the victim, made sexual demands, took her purse, and demanded money. The victim escaped from the vehicle and entered a witness’s vehicle. A witness recorded part of the incident, and additional witnesses corroborated the victims' accounts. Both victims later identified Fitzgerald in a photographic lineup.

On August 2, 2025, officers responded to a report of an assault in Tower Grove Park. Park rangers detained Fitzgerald and recovered brass knuckles from his possession. Investigators determined Fitzgerald approached a 38-year-old woman who was seated on a park bench and began striking her on the head and chest. A 28-year-old man and 41-year-old woman attempted to intervene. Fitzgerald struck the 41-year-old woman and bit the 28-year-old man on the arm, causing visible bruising and teeth marks. When a 27-year-old man approached to assist the other victims, Fitzgerald struck him in the head with brass knuckles.

"People should be able to enjoy public spaces without fear of violence or intimidation,” said Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore. “The victims in this case courageously reported what happened and participated in the prosecution. Their willingness to come forward enabled our office to hold the defendant accountable for these heinous crimes."

Special Victims Unit Deputy Supervisor Sydney Beecher prosecuted the case.

The defendant’s case number is 2522-CR02388-01.