The Hendry County Grand Jury returned an indictment today charging Ian Baunach with First Degree Murder, Abuse of a Dead Human Body, and Tampering with Physical
Evidence.
It is alleged that Baunach murdered his estranged ex-wife, Katie Baunach, between September 29th and September 30th, 2022, at his home in Hendry County. The victim was reported missing when she never returned from going to the defendant’s home to retrieve some belongings.
The Hendry County Sheriff’s Office was notified and immediately began an investigation, which led to the discovery of evidence of a crime being committed on the property.
“I hope today’s indictment brings some sense of relief to the victim’s family. I want to thank the Hendry County Grand Jury for their time and attention to the details of this case. I also want to thank Sheriff Steve Whidden and the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office, for their work in developing the evidence. Their very swift actions to find the victim, and the evidence of the crime before the defendant destroyed it, led to an arrest, and today’s indictment,” said State Attorney Amira Fox.
Samantha Syoen – Communications Director, State Attorney’s Office