Ex-Boyfriend Is Charged in Girl’s Slaying

A 20-year-old Anaheim man was charged Thursday with murdering his former girlfriend, Melissa Allyson Austin, 16, of Mission Viejo.

Court officials gathered for the arraignment of Kenneth Nunno at his bedside at Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center, where he is recovering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Police believe Nunno shot Austin, who had been forbidden by her parents to see him, sometime Sunday evening or Monday morning. A janitor found Austin’s body Monday morning inside the family car, which was parked behind a warehouse in Mission Viejo.

Nunno was found in his car the same day with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said.

A defendant must be arraigned within 48 hours of being arrested, causing the unusual hospital setting, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Clyde Von Der Ahe. “When the person can’t come to the court, the court has to go to the person,” he said.

Municipal Judge Pamela L. Iles set Nunno’s bail at $1 million and postponed the arraignment until July 8.

A memorial service for Austin will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Shepherd of the Hills United Methodist Church in Mission Viejo and is open to the public.

Austin’s family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the local chapter of the American Juvenile Diabetes Assn.