Kansas City man accused of beating 61-year-old aunt to death with baseball bat
A Kansas City man has been charged with beating his 61-year-old aunt to death with a baseball bat earlier this week, prosecutors said Tuesday.
Darryl Banks, 33, is charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action in the killing of Phillis Banks, who was found dead Sunday night at a home near East 75th Street and Wabash Avenue.
Officers found Phillis Banks in a chair with severe trauma to her head. They also saw an aluminum bat and knife, both of which had apparent blood on them, on the floor nearby, according to charging documents.
Police said a relative at the crime scene told officers something similar to: “I can’t believe he killed auntie.”
Darryl Banks and his aunt were the only two people at the house before she was found dead, a relative told police. A medical examiner determined she died of blunt force trauma to the head.
Banks was taken to police headquarters, where he indicated he did not wish to speak with detectives.
A forensic specialist determined blood found on the inside of Banks’ glasses included his aunt’s DNA as a major contributor, according to Jackson County prosecutors.
Banks’ bond was set at $350,000 cash. He did not have an attorney listed in public records as of Tuesday morning.
This story was originally published January 28, 2020 at 12:48 PM.
