Nationwide — Ashanti Allen, a 23-year-old African American woman from Houston, Texas, was found dead after going missing while eight months pregnant. Kevin Faux, who is identified as the father of her unborn child, was charged with murder in connection with her death.
Allen was last seen on Friday after leaving her home near McNee Road and Main Street in Houston. When she did not return, family members reported her missing and began searching for answers.
Her disappearance came after what her family described as a concerning series of events. Her mother, Trisa Gaines, last saw her on April 8 when Allen took her to a medical appointment before returning to their apartment complex near Main Street and NRG Stadium.
Gaines later received a troubling text from Allen on April 10 that read, “I am leaving, not coming back.” She said she did not believe the message was truly from her daughter. When she went to Allen’s apartment, no one answered the door. She found Allen’s belongings still inside, including baby items and a packed hospital bag, while the family’s white Lincoln SUV was gone.
Days after Allen was reported missing, investigators focused their search near Chimney Rock Park in southwest Houston. On Thursday, officers found Allen’s body in the area and spent several hours securing and processing the scene, according to Fox 26 Houston.
Houston police said detectives quickly identified Kevin Faux as a suspect. They confirmed he is the father of Allen’s unborn child. Authorities said Faux is not in custody and asked the public for any information on his whereabouts.
Court records show Faux has a prior criminal history. In 2019, he was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He also faced a 2025 charge for assault on a family member.
As the investigation continued, Allen’s family shared their grief. Her father described her as quiet, kind, and excited about becoming a mother.
“I can’t even tell you how I feel. My body is just completely numb,” he said. “I don’t think I even processed the fact that my daughter is gone. But I know it’s going to hit me. It’s going to hit me hard. Because I love my baby girl. She’s my only girl, my baby girl. And then she had my only baby grandson. So right now I can’t even, I can’t put it in words how I feel.”
Police said the investigation remains ongoing as they continue to determine what led to Allen’s death and search for Faux.