A St. Louis man is headed to prison for 25 years after admitting to a two-day stretch of violence in Tower Grove Park in August 2025. Austin J. Fitzgerald, 61, pleaded guilty in a St. Louis City courtroom to a slate of felonies that prosecutors say involved kidnapping, sexual abuse and multiple assaults.
According to First Alert 4, Fitzgerald entered guilty pleas to 13 felony counts, including first-degree kidnapping, sexual abuse, assault and unlawful possession of brass knuckles. The judge handed down a 25-year prison term covering all of the offenses.
What Prosecutors Say
Court documents reviewed by reporters state that on August 1, 2025, Fitzgerald approached two women from behind in Tower Grove Park while holding what was described as a "black pistol-like" gun. He allegedly told them, "You two are coming with me," forced one woman into his car and groped her while keeping the gun in his lap. She eventually managed to escape and ran to a witness's vehicle. Both women later identified Fitzgerald in a photographic lineup, according to the filings.
The next day, August 2, prosecutors say Fitzgerald returned to the park and escalated the violence, punching three people with brass knuckles and biting a fourth, based on probable-cause statements described in the coverage.
Bystanders And Park Rangers
Bystanders and park rangers intervened and helped subdue Fitzgerald until authorities arrived. First responders took the victims to a nearby hospital, and Fitzgerald was later charged with kidnapping and sexual abuse. Earlier reporting notes that some people in the park at the time were there for an event tied to the mobile game Pokémon Go, and bystander video from that day was collected as evidence.
Sentence And Apology
At the sentencing hearing, Fitzgerald apologized in court and said he hoped his victims "would be able to enjoy Tower Grove Park again," First Alert 4 reports. The judge then imposed the 25-year prison term covering the combined counts.
Legal Notes
Fitzgerald's 13 felony convictions include first-degree kidnapping, sexual abuse, assault and unlawful possession of brass knuckles, charges that can collectively carry decades behind bars, according to court records reviewed by Law&Crime. Prosecutors told the judge the case involved multiple victims and was backed by eyewitness accounts that supported their filings.
Aftermath
Victims were treated at a nearby hospital after the incidents, and police said witness statements and bystander video were crucial in identifying Fitzgerald and securing the charges. Community leaders and neighborhood groups later praised the quick action of bystanders and park staff while urging residents and visitors to stay alert in the popular park.
