A Texas man has been arrested and charged with murdering his fiancé after police uncovered a disturbing Google search he made before the killing.
Ty Dalton Vaughn, 31, of Baytown allegedly searched, “Can I kill an illegal human?” before shooting his fiancé, Luis Banos, 27, inside their apartment on January 14.
Although Vaughn initially told authorities that Banos had died by suicide, investigators found inconsistencies in his statements and evidence that contradicted his claims.
Investigators Piece Together A Different Story
According to court documents obtained by ABC13, Vaughn claimed he arrived home drunk at around 5:30 a.m. and found Banos dead. However, police found that he had conducted an online search questioning “whether or not it was illegal for him to kill an illegal immigrant” just hours before the shooting.
Authorities noted that Vaughn repeatedly brought up Banos’ immigration status without being prompted and that he staged the crime scene to look like a suicide.
The Timeline Of The Killing
Vaughn told police that he and Banos had argued on January 13 before he left to visit his mother. He sent Banos a text at 4:27 a.m. that read, “Babe? Babe why are you not texting back?!?!” before calling 911 at 5:38 a.m., telling dispatchers, “My spouse is dead. Help. My life is over.”
However, security footage showed Vaughn returning home at 4:05 a.m., contradicting his statement. Neighbors also reported hearing a gunshot shortly after. When Vaughn sent his text, Banos was already dead. Investigators determined that Vaughn waited 93 minutes before calling 911.
Crime Scene Evidence And Police Investigation
Police found Banos’ body on a bed with a rifle positioned against his arm and a torn picture of him and Vaughn nearby. He had been shot through one of his eyes.
Baytown Police later determined that Vaughn’s statements were inconsistent, and after reviewing evidence, they classified the case as a homicide. “Throughout the investigation, Vaughn provided inconsistent statements,” authorities said in a news release.
Charges Filed Against Ty Vaughn
On March 7, 2025, nearly seven weeks after the killing, the Harris County District Attorney’s Office filed murder charges against Vaughn. He was arrested and booked into the Harris County Jail with bond set at $500,000.
“There were some indications, including blood on the bed away from the position that the complainant was found in, that the scene had been tampered with essentially,” prosecutor Michael Hanover told KHOU 11.
Vaughn’s Response And Public Reaction
Before being charged, Vaughn gave an interview to ABC13, where he avoided giving clear answers. When asked if he had spoken to Banos on the day of the murder, he responded, “I don’t know. The police know all the details… I don’t know. I’ve been kind of not great. I haven’t really been going to police looking for answers.”
When offered condolences, Vaughn simply replied, “I mean, it is what it is.”
Remembering Luis Banos
Following Banos’ death, his cousin Diana Ascencio started a GoFundMe to cover funeral expenses.
“Luis was known as an amazing son, uncle, brother, best friend, manager, and student,” she wrote. “He was always there when you needed him. He was talented, artistic, creative, and such a hard worker. If you knew him, you know he was a true angel and kind soul, he deserved so much more than what this world gave him.
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