A Texas man is accused of murdering his fiancé and staging the scene to look like a suicide.
Ty Vaughn, 31, was arrested and charged with murder on Friday, March 7, in connection with the January shooting death of 27-year-old Luis Banos, according to a press release from the Baytown Police Department.
On Jan. 14, police officers responded to an apartment complex in Baytown after a 911 caller — later identified as Vaughn — claimed he’d found his fiancé dead from a gunshot wound, the release states. Inside, police found Banos dead with an apparent gunshot wound and detained Vaughn for questioning.
“Throughout the investigation, Vaughn provided inconsistent statements,” police alleged. “Detectives later determined the cause of death to be a homicide.”
Court records show that Vaughn was set to appear in court on Monday, March 10, regarding his charges. His bond was set at $500,000. It’s unclear if he has entered a plea and PEOPLE has contacted his listed attorney for comment.
According to a probable cause for further detention document filed in Harris County District Court and obtained by PEOPLE, Vaughn is accused of shooting Banos in the face with a rifle and subsequently staging the murder to look like a suicide. He also allegedly searched online for what the consequences were for a “legal citizen” killing an “illegal immigrant,” prior to Banos’ death, per the document.
Court documents cited by ABC13 state that police found that he had searched, “Can I kill an illegal human?” The outlet reports Vaughn initially told police that he had been arguing with Banos before coming home to find him dead.
According to Fox 26, court documents show Vaughn later told police that his fiancé “lacked legal status.”
Police claim Vaughn was trying to “diminish or disparage (Banos’) status or worth,” by discussing his immigration status, the San Antonio Express-News reports, citing a search warrant affidavit. Banos was reportedly a native of Mexico.
