Pregnant Woman’s Body Found Near Bayou Days After She Sent Concerning Text to Mom and Disappeared

Houston authorities have filed capital murder charges against 24-year-old Kevin Faux following the discovery of the body of Ashanti Allen, an expectant mother who disappeared under suspicious circumstances earlier this month.

Allen, 23, was eight months pregnant at the time of her death. Search teams located her body on Thursday near a bayou in Houston’s Chimney Rock Park. The discovery concluded a week-long search involving local law enforcement and Texas EquuSearch, a volunteer recovery organization.

Investigators identified Faux as the father of Allen’s unborn child. While the Houston Police Department initially filed a murder charge on Thursday, officials confirmed Friday that the charge has been upgraded to capital murder.

The escalation to capital murder typically involves specific aggravating factors under Texas law, including the murder of an individual under the age of 15 or, in some contexts, the death of an unborn child during the commission of a homicide.

Allen was last seen on April 8 after assisting her mother, Trisa Gaines, with a medical appointment. The pair returned to their shared apartment complex near NRG Stadium, but Allen vanished shortly after.

The investigation centered on a final, cryptic text message sent from Allen’s phone at approximately 4:00 a.m. on April 10. The message read: “I am leaving, not coming back.”

Gaines alerted authorities after finding the apartment undisturbed. Despite the text claiming she was leaving, Allen’s packed hospital bag and all personal belongings remained in the home. Only the family’s white Lincoln SUV was missing from the premises.

The victim’s father described his daughter as a young woman looking forward to motherhood. “She was excited about [the baby],” he told local media. “Her life was going somewhere. Until, unfortunately, this happened.”

Texas EquuSearch released a statement thanking the volunteers who assisted in the recovery while offering prayers to the family “as they navigate through this very difficult time.”

Faux remains in custody as the investigation continues. Authorities have not yet released the official cause of death pending a report from the medical examiner.