A man has been accused of murdering his pregnant wife and taking pictures of her lifeless body after she sent desperate texts to a friend begging for help.
Vincent LaSara Terry, 47, was arrested by cops in Summerfield, Florida after photographs were found on his phone showing Chrystal Terry with a gunshot wound to her stomach and severe facial injuries.
Chrystal, 40, had been reported missing on January 8, with family saying she had not been seen since December 21.
Vincent LaSara Terry (left), 47, was arrested by cops in Summerfield, Florida after photographs were found on his phone showing Chrystal Terry (right) with a gunshot wound to her stomach and severe facial injuries
Vincent had originally told police his 19-weeks pregnant wife had snorted drugs that night before disappearing without her wallet, phone or purse, WESH2 reports.
He had reported her missing on Christmas Day, but when cops searched the couple’s house and cellphones they found the shocking pictures and texts.
Chrystal’s phone contained a string of messages sent to a friend from 7.54pm on the night of her disappearance.
One read, ‘will you please come pick me up. 911’, another ‘I need you, it’s serious’ and one said simply: ‘I’ll do anything’.
She also made 11 phone calls in the space of four minutes, with the final one at 8.59pm.
A search of the couple’s home also revealed that the floors had recently been cleaned but blood was still splattered on the wall of the living room, ClickOrlando reports.
Vincent also had a .22-caliber rifle and 53 bullets in the main bedroom of the house.
Cops then found the pictures showing Chrystal’s bloody body, but Vincent said he took the photographs merely to show his wife ‘how she looked’ after taking drugs.
He claimed she walked out of the house after the images were taken.
Though Chrystal’s body could not be found, he was charged with second-degree murder and weapons charges and is being held at Marion County Jail without bond.
In 2014, Vincent was arrested for the attempted murder of Chrystal but she refused to cooperate and the charges were dropped.