A Texas man is facing murder charges after allegedly killing his fiancé and attempting to stage the crime scene as a suicide. Authorities say that before the killing, he searched online whether he could “kill an illegal human,” referencing his fiancé’s immigration status.
Ty Vaughn, 31, was arrested in connection with the January death of 27-year-old Luis Banos Norberto. According to a criminal complaint, Vaughn shot Norberto in the face before moving his body in an attempt to make it look self-inflicted. The incident took place on January 14 at an apartment complex in Baytown, near Houston.
Investigators say Vaughn initially claimed that he discovered Norberto dead when he returned home around 5:30 a.m. However, surveillance footage reportedly showed that Vaughn had actually arrived home an hour earlier, at approximately 4 a.m. Witnesses also reported hearing a gunshot shortly afterward.
In what authorities believe was an attempt to mislead investigators, Vaughn allegedly sent Norberto a text message around 4:30 a.m., despite knowing he was already dead. The message read, “Babe? Babe why are you not texting back?!?!” Despite this, Vaughn waited nearly an hour before calling 911.
During the emergency call, he reportedly told dispatchers, “My spouse is dead. Help. My life is over.”
When officers arrived at the scene, they found Norberto lying on a bed with a lever-action rifle positioned against his arm. A torn-up photograph of the couple was also discovered nearby. Vaughn repeatedly mentioned Norberto’s undocumented status while speaking with authorities.
Upon searching Vaughn’s phone, detectives allegedly found an internet search that read, “Can I kill an illegal human?” This discovery, along with the timeline discrepancies and staged crime scene, led authorities to suspect premeditated murder rather than suicide.
Before his arrest, Vaughn spoke publicly and insisted that law enforcement was aware of “all the details.” When someone offered their condolences, he allegedly responded with indifference, saying, “I mean, it is what it is.”
Following an investigation, police arrested Vaughn on Saturday. He is currently being held at the Harris County Jail with a bond set at $500,000. His first court appearance is scheduled for Monday.
Norberto, originally from Guerrero, Mexico, had family members residing in Baytown. His loved ones are mourning his tragic death as the legal process against Vaughn moves forward.
