A 40-year-old Florida Bodyguard, Ian Christopher Baunach has been charged with the gruesome death of his ex-wife this week, after being accused of incinerating her body in a backyard.
The former Marine — was arraigned on Monday on first-degree murder charges in the death of Katie Baunach.
The last time Katie was seen alive was on September 29, when a friend claims she said she intended to go to Ian’s to get some of her things, but never returned.
Police were called to Ian’s home in Florida the next day, where they found Katie’s car parked outside, but he refused to let them in. Once officers revisited the residence with a warrant, Katie’s car was gone.
When the police went into Ian’s home, they saw splatters of blood which revealed that there must have been some kind of struggle.
Last month, Katie filed for a restraining order against Ian after accusing him of abusing one of their children.
Officers say they also found an AR-15 upper receiver and 13 silencers, a Glock Model 27 .40 caliber pistol inside a plastic bag on a bookshelf inside a safe. Katie’s engagement ring and wedding ring were there as well.
The police also said that they found human remains outside of Ian’s home — including a jawbone with a tooth still intact — in a fresh burn pile that smelled like flesh, according to doctor, which was near a 50-gallon barrel.
Ian was taken into custody two days after Katie’s death — and was charged with first-degree premeditated murder, destruction/concealment of physical evidence, and cremating a dead body.
Ian has insisted that he did not kill his ex-wife, saying that she disappeared, although he admitted that they got into an argument over another woman.
Ian pled not guilty to the charges in Tampa court, Florida this week. If convicted on the state charge of first-degree murder, Baunach faces life in prison or the death penalty.
