Bodybuilder accused of burning ex-wife’s body in backyard.
A bodybuilder from Florida, Ian Christopher Baunch, is accused of allegedly murdering his ex-wife and burning her in his back yard.
Ian Christopher Baunch, who competed with the NPC in 2020, is a former Marine, was arraigned on Monday on first-degree murder charges in the death of Katie Baunach.
According to TMZ, the last time Katie was seen alive was on 29 September. A friend of Katie Baunach, claims that she had to go to her ex-husband’s house to get some of her personal belongings, but never returned.
The Police were called to Ian’s home the next day, where they discovered Katie’s car parked outside. Ian refused to let the police officers in his house. Once the officers revisited the residence with a warrant, Katie’s car was gone.
Once inside Ian’s home, detectives reported that they noticed signs of a struggle and evidence of blood stains in the house.
According to TMZ, the police officers reported that 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 detectives found a jawbone with a tooth still intact, in a fresh burn pile that smelled like flesh…
Human Remains found outside of Ian’s home
Detectives continued to search the residence and found human remains outside of Ian’s home.
The detectives found a jawbone with a tooth still intact, in a fresh burn pile that smelled like flesh, near a 50-gallon barrel.
Officials treated Ian Baunach’s car in the garage by applying luminol, chemical that reacts to blood by glowing blood, and found that the interior of the truck “glowed blue” after treatment, court documents said.
The accused, Ian Christopher Baunch, claims that he is innocent and never killer his ex-wife. Ian claims claims that she disappeared, but at the same time admits that they had an argument over another women.
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 pleaded not guilty to the charges in Tampa court this week.
Last month, Katie filed for a restraining order against Ian, after accusing him of abusing one of their children. Ian was also arrested on charges of domestic battery by strangulation in November 2021
