Govenor Abbot’s office adds $20K reward for information on missing suspect in 2-year murder case

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — An unsolved murder in Harris County is getting attention from the highest levels of state government.

Two years into the investigation, deputies say they are still searching for the person who broke into a Houston man’s home and stabbed him to death in the middle of the night.

The Governor’s office is now offering $20,000 to anyone who has helpful information on the person responsible.

This comes after Crimestoppers also put out a $20,000 reward. The family feels that with both local and state officials closely monitoring this case, they’ll soon get the answers they’ve been looking for.

Since Sept. 22, 2023, every day has been a struggle for Harold and Celene Miller

“You wake up thinking about it. You go to sleep thinking about it. You think about it all day long,” Celene said.

That’s the day the Harris County Sheriff’s Office says the couple’s son, 39-year-old Austin Kanuch, was stabbed to death. According to investigators, he was asleep when someone broke into his home.

“Tremendously difficult day, as you can imagine. Just doesn’t get any easier,” Celene said.

Two years later, the big question remains– who took their son’s life?

Surveillance footage from that day shows a person authorities believe is the suspect riding a bike near Kanuch’s home along Greenleaf Lake Drive in northwest Houston.

“We’re always waiting for the other shoe to fall. Waiting for the other shoe to drop, you know. And we’re always waiting for the phone to ring to say, ‘We’ve made an arrest,'” Celene said.

While his parents wait every day for answers, they look back at the memories of him.

“Celene will tell you, as a child, she tells me, she had to watch him because he was so outgoing. He would be ready to go home with somebody else,” Harold said.

“He was one of those types of people (who), when you walked into a room, he lit up the room. He kind of had a big voice and a big personality. You noticed them when he was there,” Celene said.

His loved ones will continue fighting for justice for their son.

“Let me just say this to anyone (who) is watching this. Harold and I, and our friends, will never, ever give up,” Celene said.

For updates, follow Mo Haider on Facebook, X and Instagram.