Austin Lynch, Nesconset teen accused of fatally shooting ex-girlfriend Emily Finn, of West Sayville, requests psychiatric exam at court hearing

A Nesconset teen accused of killing his former girlfriend as she visited him to return his belongings last month is requesting a psychiatric exam to determine if he is mentally competent to stand trial, his attorney informed a Suffolk judge Wednesday.

Austin Lynch, 18, is charged with second-degree murder in the Nov. 26 shooting death of Emily Finn. Prosecutors said at an arraignment last week that Lynch fired a single shot from close range into the back of Finn's head as she was looking to leave his home before turning the gun on himself, surviving a shot to his face. He has pleaded not guilty.

Defense attorney William Wexler, of North Babylon, told acting Suffolk Supreme Court Justice Anthony Senft his client will file an application for the mental heath evaluation, which helps determine if the defendant is able to understand the charges and assist in their defense.

Prosecutors have called Lynch's actions, which occurred on the eve of both Thanksgiving and his 18th birthday, premeditated and intentional, arguing he was distraught after Finn ended their three-year relationship two weeks earlier and had declared his intent to show her "how angry he was" and end his life. Finn, 18, of West Sayville, had just returned home for the holiday from SUNY Oneonta. She was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

"This is a tragic case," Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said in a statement Dec. 5. "Emily Finn should still be alive and back at college. Instead, the defendant allegedly robbed her of that experience and her future."

Senft, who handles adolescent offender cases in Suffolk and took over the case this week, said despite Lynch being 17 by a matter of hours at the time of the shooting, he will be remanded to an adult jail facility.  

"He has since turned 18 and ... the court is not required to house him in a [juvenile] facility," the judge told the courtroom full of Finn's family members and their supporters.

The judge also disclosed for the attorneys a professional relationship with one of the victim's cousins. Julie Walsh is a court attorney referee in the office of Suffolk County District Administrative Judge Andrew Crecca. She served as Senft's law clerk seven years ago.

"It will not impact me in any way," Senft said, adding he believes he can preside over the case "without prejudice."

"We accept the court's representation," Wexler responded before prosecutors echoed that sentiment.

Lynch is due back in court Jan. 20.

Friends told investigators the young couple's relationship had broken down after Finn left to attend college at SUNY Oneonta in the fall and Lynch, who had enlisted in the Marines and was set to report to boot camp in February, became "possessive, accusatory and overbearing," Assistant District Attorney Dena Rizopoulos said at his arraignment.

On two visits he made to her school in October, the last one on Halloween, the couple fought, witnesses told police.

When they broke up in November, Finn blocked Lynch's number because he was "texting [her] incessantly," Rizopoulos said. He also tried contacting her repeatedly through social media and by using his mother's phone, the prosecutor said.

"When unable to access the victim, [Lynch] began regularly calling one of her best friends," Rizopoulos told the arraignment judge. "He told this friend he wanted to die and he was going to kill himself."

Rizopoulos said evidence from the home at Shenandoah Boulevard North showed Lynch loaded just two shots into the gun, a Charles Daly Turkey 12-gauge semiautomatic shotgun.

The prosecutor said a string of messages sent by Lynch to Finn's friend between Nov. 12 and 20 outlined his intentions for the killing.

"'I have set my mind on leaving this place the day before my 18th birthday," one message read aloud by the prosecutor said. "I [expletive] hate her."

Friends told investigators Finn was scared of Lynch because he was acting "crazy," but met up with him to return his belongings anyway. She arrived at the home at 9:50 a.m. intent on meeting with him "face to face," seeking closure, Rizopoulos said.

Lynch's parents, Jason and Melissa Lynch, were home at the time of the shooting, but were cleaning out a hot tub in the backyard, the prosecutor said. His father called 911 to report the shooting at 11:11 a.m.

By Grant Parpan

grant.parpan@newsday.com@GrantParpan

Grant Parpan covers Suffolk County courts and federal courts for Newsday. A Long Island native, he joined Newsday in 2022.