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Houston police are searching for a 24-year-old man they say killed a pregnant 23-year-old woman, a case that has rattled the local community and renewed scrutiny on prior domestic-violence handling. Authorities have upgraded the charge to capital murder, and investigators say the loss includes the unborn child.
Timeline and discovery
Ashanti Allen, 23, was reported missing after she was last seen on April 8 leaving the 8700 block of Main Street in Houston’s South Main area. Her remains were recovered on the morning of April 16 in Willow Waterhole Bayou near Chimney Rock Park, roughly six miles southwest of where she was last seen.
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Police say Allen was in the late stages of pregnancy — described by family and investigators as eight months pregnant — when she disappeared. Authorities have not publicly released a cause of death while the investigation continues.
Who law enforcement is seeking
Houston police identified 24-year-old Kevin Faux as the suspect and have charged him with capital murder. At the time of the upgrade, officers said Faux was the subject of an active manhunt.
Investigators recovered the vehicle Allen was last seen in — her mother’s car — and family members told local outlets that the day after Allen went missing, a message from her phone suggested she was leaving and did not plan to return. Relatives flagged that as out of character because personal items, including clothing and items meant for the baby, were still at her apartment.
- Victim: Ashanti Allen, 23
- Suspect: Kevin Faux, 24 (charged with capital murder)
- Missing: Last seen April 8, 8700 block of Main Street
- Body found: April 16, Willow Waterhole Bayou near Chimney Rock Park
- Pregnancy: Eight months along
- Status: Cause of death pending; suspect sought by police
Background and past incidents
Local court records and reporting indicate Faux had prior legal entanglements tied to alleged domestic violence involving Allen. In September 2025 he was charged with assault-continuous family violence, according to documents obtained by a Houston television station. Later, prosecutors say he accepted a plea to a misdemeanor family-assault count.
Records show a sentence of 280 days in county jail with credit for time already served, and authorities report he was released early; police are now examining the earlier case as part of a broader inquiry into what led to Allen’s death.
Family members have spoken publicly about their grief and disbelief. Allen’s father told reporters he had been preparing for the arrival of his first grandchild and is struggling to process the loss.
Why this matters now
The case highlights issues that often surface after high-profile domestic-violence incidents — from the handling of earlier charges to questions about monitoring and enforcement — and may prompt renewed attention from prosecutors and community advocates. For residents, the immediate concern is the whereabouts of the suspect and the safety of those who may be at risk.
If you have information that could help locate Kevin Faux or shed light on the circumstances of Allen’s death, Houston Police Department Homicide can be reached at 713-308-3600. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to Houston Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477).
