LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A New Albany, Indiana, native was found dead earlier this month in Florida, and her ex-husband faces numerous charges, including first-degree premeditated murder and illegally cremating a body.
Katie Baunach, a 39-year-old nurse from New Albany who was living in Fort Myers, made plans to stay with family in Georgia after Hurricane Ian damaged her home. But on Sept. 30, she was reported missing.
Her mother, Carolyn McKinney, said she had just arrived at work Friday morning when she received a call from her eldest daughter informing her nobody had seen or heard from Katie since the night before.
Katie smiles with her son and daughter ages 6 and 4.
McKinney said Katie Baunach had been contacted Thursday night by her 43-year-old ex-husband, Ian Baunach. McKinney said he told Katie Baunach he was moving out of the country and that she needed to come get the rest of her things.
McKinney said Katie Baunach did not want her children around him, so she left them at a friend's house while she went to collect her belongings.
"Her friend said, 'Please don't go without a police escort,' and she said that she thought it would be fine," McKinney said. "He was wanting her to bring the kids too. So he was going to kill all of them."
Prior to her disappearance, Katie Baunach accused her ex-husband of physically abusing their children. At one point, she obtained a restraining order, asking a court to send her ex-husband to counseling.
McKinney said getting her daughter to move from New Albany to Florida and limiting how often she could use her phone to talk to family were just some of the ways he tried to control her life.
"He got her there and got her cut off from everybody. He made it to where she didn't have anybody but him," McKinney said. "She's lived under this abuse the whole time, but we didn't know."
Katie Baunach holds young daughter during trip to the beach.
When nobody had heard from Katie Baunach by Friday morning, McKinney and the friend who was watching Katie's children both called the sheriff, fearing the worst.
"I knew," McKinney said. "It was just waiting for them to say."
Federal investigators said they also found Katie's purse in her car, along with her wedding band and engagement ring in a safe with 13 vials of steroids and more than a dozen unregistered silencers. After four days of investigation, police say they found human remains in a burn pile, including part of a jawbone and tooth. There was also a 50-gallon-barrel outside, which "reeked of decaying flesh," according to the federal criminal complaint.
Katie Baunach kisses newborn son in hospital.
Ian Baunach was arrested on drug charges. After Katie Baunach's remains were found, he was also charged her murder.
McKinney said she is heartbroken by the lack of support her daughter received from police whenever she tried seeking help from the abuse in the past.
"It was maddening, absolutely maddening, what she went through," McKinney said of the domestic abuse. "Nobody ever believed her ... She was trying to fight for her kids' safety, and no one would believe her."
McKinney accused Ian Baunach of also attempting to strangle her daughter to death last October, prompting her to officially file for divorce. She said after her daughter filed, she learned about other abusive relationships in his past.
Katie Baunach lived in Florida with her two children, ages 6 and 4.
According to family, Ian Baunach had two other previous marriages. One of his ex-wives described him as "a monster" and told WDRB News she escaped his abuse "by the Grace of God."
McKinney said she knows she'll never get her daughter back and is hopeful her story can help other's recognize warning signs and save lives.
"I don't know how mentally she stood it," McKinney said. "That's the only thing I know is she did it for her children."
Ian Baunach is being held without bail on several charges, including first-degree premeditated murder, illegally cremating a body, drug possession and violating federal firearms law.
McKinney said she is now going to care for her daughter's two children. To help support a GoFundMe that was set up to support the young children, click here.
Copyright 2022 WDRB Media. Fox News contributed to this report. All Rights Reserved.
