Murder

When Meeting Your Internet Pals Is Deadly

spenser-wallace-vogtlee-carl-banks-iii

Like harassed students ending up dead, meeting someone for online only to end up murdered is an uncomfortable trend. Recently there was former WABC newsman George Weber. Now, a Houston teen.

The Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office says a 19-year-old Houston man has confessed to killing a Cinco Ranch High School senior he met in an online chat room. Spencer Vogt [pictured, left], also 19, was last seen on Friday near his home in Katy.

Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office officials say a body found wrapped in a blue tarp Wednesday night has been positively identified as Vogt. Deputies found his body in a ditch on Fuqua near Cullen and the Sam Houston Parkway in southeast Houston. They were acting on a tip from Lee Carl Banks III [pictured, right].

On Monday police in Cairo, Georgia pulled over Banks and discovered he was carrying a handgun and driving a Mitsubishi Eclipse registered to Vogt’s family. Brady says good police work led to officers getting a confession from Banks and learning where the body was dumped.

Chief Deputy Craig Brady says Banks allegedly killed Vogt in his family’s southeast Houston apartment. Thursday afternoon, investigators executed a search warrant at the home. They say the two met in an online chat room for gay men.

“My understanding is they had only known each other for a short time, less than a week, but they had prior meetings.” [Fox Houston]

Don't forget to share:

Help make sure LGBTQ+ stories are being told...

We can't rely on mainstream media to tell our stories. That's why we don't lock Queerty articles behind a paywall. Will you support our mission with a contribution today?

Cancel anytime · Proudly LGBTQ+ owned and operated