Florida Man Charged In Murder Of Missing Wife He Said Left After Argument

A Florida man has been jailed for murder charges in the death of his missing 53-year-old wife, who vanished late last month.

Ian Lanning, 54, is accused of killing his wife, Irene Lanning Xeniti at the couple’s Pompano Beach property in May, according to the Broward County Sheriff's Office. Xeniti’s remains haven’t yet been recovered by authorities.

The sheriff's office announced Lanning's arrest on Sunday.

Xeniti was reported missing to investigators by the her daughter on May 30. She was last seen driving a black, four-door vehicle in the area of Atlantic Boulevard and Federal Highway in Pompano Beach around 12:45 a.m. on May 21. The vehicle’s make and model is unknown.

Days after the missing person's report was filed, homicide detectives took over her case, stating the circumstances surrounding her disappearance were a “cause for concern.” 

After police questioned Lanning at the couple’s home following the missing person's report her daughter filed for Xeniti, he allegedly stated he’d gotten into a verbal dispute with Xeniti on May 14, the Broward County Sheriff's Office said in a press release on June 12. He allegedly claimed that his wife left the property following the altercation, and insisted he hadn’t seen or heard from her since.

Police say that was untrue.

“Through investigative methods, detectives were able to determine the victim’s phone was in the vicinity of the couple’s residence approximately 1 a.m. on May 21,” the sheriff's office said in their statement  — shortly after her car was seen. “Detectives also obtained information that indicated the couple had been traveling in the same area on May 20.”

And, after executing a search warrant on the couple’s house and Lanning’s vehicle, investigators suspect Xeniti was murdered at the couple’s home and that her husband dumped her corpse at an “unknown location.” 

Detectives secured a warrant for Lanning’s arrest on June 11. He has since been charged with a single count of first-degree murder in his wife’s suspected killing and is being held without bond at a Broward County detention facility, according to online jail records obtained by Oxygen.com. 

Lanning briefly appeared in court on Sunday, represented by a public defender. The 54-year-old hasn't yet entered a plea. No upcoming court information was available for the Pompano Beach man as of Wednesday afternoon.

No further information was immediately available for the active investigation this week, and the Broward County Sheriff’s Office decline to comment on the open case when contacted by Oxygen.com on Monday. 

Xeniti, who is described as a white female with brown eyes and brown hair, weighs approximately 160 pounds, officials said. She’s estimated to be five feet and three inches tall. A $5,000 reward for any information leading to her whereabouts was initially issued by Broward County Crime Stoppers.  

Anyone with additional information pertaining to the open case or the whereabouts of Xeniti’s remains is urged to contact Broward State Attorney homicide detective. Ryan Schnakenberg at 954-321-4200. Additionally, tips can be submitted via Broward Crime Stoppers by calling 954-493-TIPS (8477).