Merrill man discovered deceased, son Austin Stevenson charged with first degree murder

According to a press release from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office (LISO), on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at approximately 6:06 p.m., the Lincoln County 911 Dispatch Center received a call requesting a welfare check for a missing 48-year-old Merrill man who had not shown up for work or been heard from.
Deputies responded to the call in the Township of Corning, where they located the missing man, who was found deceased. Authorities confirmed the decedent was 48-year-old John Stevenson.
Following an investigation, law enforcement took 25-year-old Austin David Stevenson, also of Merrill and the son of the deceased, into custody at approximately 7:30 p.m. on March 18.
Austin Stevenson made his initial appearance in person in Lincoln County Circuit Court on March 21, 2025, facing charges of first degree intentional homicide and burglary, with special attorneys Bayley Waller and Brady Loos.
During the hearing, District Attorney Kristopher Ellis requested a $1 million cash bond, citing the violent and premeditated nature of the alleged crime. According to the criminal complaint, Stevenson allegedly traveled to the victim’s residence with the intention to kill the victim, initially planning to use rocks he had gathered in his pockets.
Ellis said that after gaining entry to the residence through an unlocked window, Stevenson found a firearm inside the home and “decided the firearm would be less messy than the rocks.” The complaint alleges that Stevenson waited for the victim to return home, then shot the victim in the face immediately upon entry.
Ellis further detailed that Stevenson then left the residence, only to return approximately 30 minutes later to fire a second shot. Ellis said that, according to autopsy findings, the victim’s heart was still beating after the first shot, with the second shot being the fatal one.
Defense attorneys Waller and Loos requested a lesser amount of cash bond, noting that Stevenson is indigent, qualifies for public defender services, and has significant connections to the community, having been raised and educated locally.
Judge Galen Bayne-Allison acknowledged that while Stevenson does not have a meaningful history of missing court appearances, the severity of the charges and the particular circumstances warranted significant cash bail.
While LISO indicated there was no threat to the public in their initial release, Judge Bayne-Allison said, “These facts warrant a finding that bail, in other words, cash bail is necessary to protect members of this community from further serious harm.”
“Mr. Stevenson traveled to the residence of the victim with allegedly a plan to kill the victim,” he said. “Mr. Stevenson found a firearm. He continued to carry through his plan to kill the victim, laid wait for the victim, and shot the victim immediately upon victim’s entry to the residence and before the victim knew that he was there. Mr. Stevenson subsequently left the victim’s residence only to return and shoot the victim again.”
Regarding the monitoring requirements, Judge Bayne-Allison said, “The court agrees that GPS monitoring is an appropriate condition... that further condition is necessary to protect the community. In other words, law enforcement should know at all times where Mr. Stevenson is.”
The judge set cash bail at $250,000 with additional conditions including GPS monitoring should Stevenson be released. The release conditions would restrict Stevenson to a place of residence except for medical appointments, attorney meetings, and court appearances. He is also prohibited from contacting any member of the victim’s family and may not possess dangerous weapons or operate dangerous instruments including motor vehicles or heavy equipment.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 24 at 2:30 p.m.
If convicted, the first degree intentional homicide charge carries a term of life imprisonment, and the burglary charge carries a fine of up to $25,000 and/or a prison term of up to 12 years and 6 months or both.
As of this writing, Austin David Stevenson remains in custody at the Lincoln County Jail.
The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office is being assisted by the Lincoln County Coroner’s Office in this ongoing investigation.
This case has not been concluded. Unless a judgment of conviction is entered, the defendant is presumed innocent of all charges.