A Texas man has been apprehended by law enforcement officials on charges of murdering his fiance, who was allegedly an undocumented immigrant. The accused, Ty Vaughn, 31, is facing charges for the murder of 27-year-old Luis Banos Norberto in January. Vaughn is suspected of shooting Norberto in the face and subsequently attempting to stage the scene to resemble a suicide, according to the criminal complaint.
The incident occurred on January 14 at an apartment complex in Baytown, a city near Houston. Local news outlet KTRK obtained an arrest affidavit that provides further insight into the allegations against Vaughn. Vaughn initially claimed that he discovered Norberto’s body upon returning home shortly after 5:30 a.m. However, surveillance footage and testimonies from neighbors contradicted his account.
The video evidence reportedly showed Vaughn returning home shortly after 4 a.m. Neighbors also reported hearing a gunshot a few minutes after his arrival. Around 4:30 a.m., with Norberto already deceased in the apartment, Vaughn allegedly sent a text message to the victim, expressing concern about his lack of response. According to law enforcement, Vaughn waited until after 5:30 a.m., approximately 90 minutes after the alleged murder, to call 911.
Upon calling emergency services, Vaughn reportedly stated, “My spouse is dead. Help. My life is over.” When officers arrived at the scene, they discovered Norberto’s body on a bed with a lever-action rifle positioned against his arm and a torn photograph of him and Vaughn nearby, as per the affidavit.
During the investigation, Vaughn repeatedly mentioned that Norberto was an undocumented immigrant. A search of his phone revealed a Google search query, “Can I kill an illegal human.” Prior to his arrest, Vaughn spoke with KTRK, stating that the “police know all the details.” When offered condolences, he allegedly responded, “I mean, it is what it is.”
Vaughn was arrested on Saturday and is currently held at the Harris County Jail on a $500,000 bond. His court hearing is scheduled for Monday. Norberto, originally from Guerrero, Mexico, has a significant portion of his family residing in Baytown.