The body of a woman believed to have been killed by her husband could be in the Intracoastal Waterway anywhere from the Hillsboro Inlet to the 14th Street Causeway in Pompano Beach, deputies said Tuesday.
Ian Lanning, 54, was arrested Saturday on a first-degree murder charge. The missing woman, his wife, Irene Lanning Xeniti, 53, is thought to have been killed in their home in Pompano Beach in the early-morning hours of May 21.
Sgt. Bryan Tutler said Lanning has been “semi-cooperative.” But he added, “We wouldn’t be looking for her body if we had all the answers we’re looking for.”
Deputies searched the couple’s home in Pompano Beach on June 8, more than a week after a missing person alert was issued on May 30. The Sheriff’s Office transferred the case from missing persons to homicide on June 3.
Deputies declined to detail what they found in the house out of respect for Xeniti’s family and because it’s an ongoing investigation. But they said they’re reasonably certain a homicide was committed at the house and a cleanup was attempted.
“It’s pretty horrific what we saw in there,” Sgt. Kevin Forsberg said.
Forsberg said officials also searched Lanning’s car, a blue Chrysler 200, and “there was an indication a body had been in the car, a deceased body.”
Deputies said Lanning didn’t have any injuries that would indicate defensive wounds or that he was involved in a fight or struggle.
Deputies are still trying to determine Xeniti’s cause of death. They said it could have been gunshot, blunt force trauma or a physical assault.
“We found items that could lead us to believe that any of those issues … could have been the issue, or the cause of her death,” Forsberg said. “But at this time, until we find her body, we probably won’t be able to tell 100% what her cause was.”
Officials also are trying to trace Lanning’s movements since Xeniti’s death.
“We’re also specifically asking anybody that’s had contact with Ian Lanning in the last month, whether it be a phone conversation or brief encounter in a grocery store, anything like that, please give us a call,” Tutler said. “It may not seem important, but in a case like this everything is important, so any type of info you can provide, we’d appreciate. Don’t hesitate; just give us a call.”
Deputies said Xeniti’s body could be anywhere in a large swath of area considering the tides, strong currents, and the storm and heavy rains that have come through the region. They suspect the body could be as far as Boca Raton to the north, farther south in Broward County, or even as far east as the Atlantic Ocean.
“We’re confident saying that the initial focal point is the northern part of Broward County’s Intracoastal Waterway, pretty close to the Palm Beach border,” Tutler said. “But it’s been a long time since then, so that’s why we’re widening the scope of where we’re looking.”
Xeniti was reported missing by her daughter. Lanning never reported his wife missing. And officials said Lanning lied when he told them the last time he saw his wife was May 14, when he said she packed her bags and left.
“Through the investigation of us tracking their movements we could tell that was inaccurate,” Forsberg said.
Forsberg added Lanning “was very nonchalant in assuming she left him, or suggesting she left him,” and that raised another red flag to officials.
Deputies said they have evidence to believe the couple was together as recently as 8:30 p.m. May 20, shortly before Xeniti left their house to go out with friends in Boca Raton. They said Xeniti dropped a friend off about 12:30 a.m. May 21 before heading home. That was the last time she was seen alive.
Officials said they think Lanning acted alone. They also said it’s a bit surprising they found so much evidence of wrongdoing in the house more than a week after they suspect the crime was committed. They said they’ve matched Xeniti’s DNA with DNA evidence recovered at the house.
“It goes to show you committing a crime is not very easy without leaving evidence,” Forsberg said. “I can tell you there was an extensive amount of evidence in that house. It paints a very gruesome picture. We’re confident that Irene is deceased, and honestly, we’re looking for her remains to get them home to her family members.”
Anyone with information on the case is asked to call homicide detective Ryan Schnakenberg at 954-321-4200, Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS (8477) or **TIPS (8477) from a cellphone, or online at Browardcrimestoppers.org.
Chris Perkins can be reached at .
