Long Island Teen Accused of Murder Facing New Conspiracy Charges After Alleged Jailhouse Plot to Rob Victim’s Family

Austin Lynch faces new conspiracy charges after allegedly planning to rob the family of Emily Finn, the teen he is accused of killing in 2025.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 20, 2026, 3:35 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Patch

A Calculated Campaign of Post-Mortem Intimidation

The legal proceedings surrounding the November 2025 death of Emily Finn have taken a sinister turn with new allegations of a coordinated criminal conspiracy. Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney announced that Austin Lynch, who is currently awaiting trial for second-degree murder, allegedly utilized his time in custody to plot a secondary strike against the victim’s grieving family. Prosecutors assert that Lynch attempted to organize a burglary of the Finn residence, demonstrating a persistent intent to harm the family even while behind bars. This development has transformed an already high-profile murder case into a broader investigation of ongoing criminal solicitation and witness intimidation.

Tactical Blueprints Shared From Behind Bars

According to investigators, Lynch did not merely suggest a robbery but provided a high level of tactical detail to an unidentified co-conspirator. The District Attorney’s office alleges that the teenager relayed specific information regarding the home’s physical layout, its various contents, and the most effective points of entry. This level of granular detail suggests a premeditated effort to exploit his former intimacy with the family to facilitate a felony. By providing what essentially amounted to a roadmap for an intruder, Lynch reportedly sought to ensure that the burglary would be successful while the family was still residing in the home.

Psychiatric Evaluation Delays Primary Murder Trial

While the new conspiracy charges proceed, the primary murder case against Lynch remains in a state of legal limbo. Following a court-ordered psychiatric evaluation, the 18-year-old was committed to a New York State Office of Mental Health hospital after being found unfit to proceed with his defense. Authorities have alleged that Lynch killed Finn, a SUNY Oneonta freshman, by shooting her at point-blank range when she visited his home to return belongings following their breakup. The defendant will remain under medical supervision until he is deemed to possess a sufficient understanding of the charges, a status that will be reviewed periodically by the court.