Rodney Rawlings is facing a first-degree murder charge following the June 2025 death of Diego Rocha.
AUSTIN, Texas — A man has been charged with first-degree murder in connection to a fentanyl-related death that happened in southeast Austin, according to the Austin Police Department (APD).
Police said the arrest of 44-year-old Rodney Rawlings stems from when officers responded initially to a welfare check call on June 3, 2025, in the 6600 block of Willow Way. The caller reported that their brother appeared to be dead and would not wake up.
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When officers arrived around 6 p.m., police said the Austin Fire Department (AFD) personnel were already on scene attempting life-saving measures on the person, who was later identified as Diego Rocha. He was later pronounced dead about 45 minutes later.
The scene was later processed by APD Detectives and crime scene specialists.
Police said the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office conducted an autopsy which revealed Rocha’s cause of death to be toxic effects of fentanyl and alprazolam.
The case was investigated by the APD’s Narcotics Support Unit (NSU). NSU detectives uncovered evidence related to Rocha’s death showing Rodney Rawlings had provided drugs to Rocha which resulted in his death. Rawlings was subsequently charged with first-degree murder, police said.
According to arrest affidavits obtained by KVUE, Rawlings also faces felony charges of possession of a controlled substance and possession of a firearm by a felon, as he has previously been convicted of a felony.
Anyone with information related to this case is asked to contact the Austin Police Department at 512-974-TIPS. Tips may also be submitted anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting austincrimestoppers.org or calling 512-472-8477.