Austin Lynch, charged with second-degree murder in killing of ex-girlfriend Emily Finn, indicted on new charges

A Suffolk teen accused of killing his former girlfriend as she visited him to return belongings in November has been indicted on new charges, a judge informed him during a brief court appearance Monday.

Acting Supreme Court Justice Anthony Senft told Austin Lynch, 18, of Nesconset, that he would be arraigned Friday, when his attorney is available to represent him. The judge did not disclose the specifics of the new charges, which court officials said remain under seal.

“I am going to put this matter back on the calendar for [Friday], which is going to be about the new charges that have been brought against you,” Senft told the 18-year-old, who appeared in a green Suffolk County Correctional Facility jumpsuit.

The appearance comes six weeks after Lynch was found not competent to stand trial following a pair of evaluations by mental health professionals. Senft ordered Lynch be committed to a New York State Office of Mental Health hospital on Jan. 30 until he is able to understand the charges against him and aid in his defense.

The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office declined to discuss the new indictment Monday and Lynch’s current competency status was not immediately clear.

“Thanks for being here today,” Senft told Lynch before he remanded  him back to the county jail to await Friday’s appearance.

Defense attorney William Wexler, who Senft said was “out of state,” could not be reached for comment Monday.

Lynch pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder in the Nov. 26 shooting death of Emily Finn, who had visited him to return his belongings following a breakup. Prosecutors have said 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.

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.

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 Dec. 5 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 semi-automatic shotgun.

The prosecutor previously 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 at Lynch's arraignment 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 previously 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.