A Texas man, Ty Vaughn, 31, has been arrested on a murder charge in connection with the death of his fiancé, Luis Banos, 27, who was found dead from a gunshot wound in January.
Vaughn was taken into custody on March 7 after an investigation by the Baytown Police Department revealed inconsistencies in his statements and evidence suggesting foul play.
On January 14, Vaughn called 911, claiming to have found Banos dead from a gunshot wound at their apartment in Baytown.
Upon arriving at the scene, police officers discovered Banos’ body with an apparent gunshot wound, and Vaughn was detained for questioning.
Initially, Vaughn told police that he had argued with Banos before coming home to find him dead. However, after further investigation, detectives found multiple inconsistencies in his account of events.
According to court documents, Vaughn allegedly shot Banos in the face with a rifle before attempting to stage the scene to look like a suicide.
During the investigation, authorities uncovered disturbing internet searches Vaughn made prior to the killing, including the question, “Can I kill an illegal human?”
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These searches were reportedly conducted in the days leading up to Banos’ death.
Court documents also reveal that Vaughn later admitted to police that Banos “lacked legal status,” with some sources reporting that Banos was originally from Mexico.
Vaughn allegedly used this information to disparage Banos’ worth or status during his interactions with investigators.
Vaughn’s bond has been set at $500,000, and he is scheduled to appear in court on March 10.
The case has sparked significant media attention due to the chilling nature of the crime and Vaughn’s alleged motive tied to Banos’ immigration status.
The investigation continues, and Vaughn’s attorney has yet to comment on the charges.
