Norman man charged with plotting murder

A Norman man is behind bars accused of plotting the murder of his ex-girlfriend and her mother.

Court records showed that the alleged plan was already underway when officers made the arrest.

The man reportedly became enraged after his ex refused to drop the rape charges against him.

They say the suspect described in detail how he would commit the murders.

“He made a detailed plan of what he was going to do and detailed that he was angry,” said Norman police spokeswoman Sarah Schettler.

According to an affidavit, a witness said Matthew Austin discussed in detail how he wanted to murder his ex-girlfriend because, he claimed, she was “ruining his life.”

In the court filing, a friend said Austin had already gone to Home Depot and purchased black gloves and a painter's mask.

“He had purchased several items that would help him carry out these threats,” Schettler said.

Investigators said the witness told them he tried to dissuade Austin by warning him he would get caught. Austin insisted he had a foolproof plan. He said, “He would just stab them so they wouldn't scream.”

After Austin left the witness's house, they called the police.

A few minutes later, police found Austin and arrested him near his ex-girlfriend's house.

Austin had a shopping bag from Home Depot that contained a mask and gloves.

“I think he initially gave the officers an excuse, like that he wanted to paint his room or something like that,” Schettler said.

The police are grateful to the person who raised the alarm.

“In a case like this, it could have prevented something terrible,” Schettler said.

Court records show another case in which Austin is accused of raping a 14-year-old girl.