Oklahoma man accused of killing his missing wife and burning her body

HASKELL, Okla. (TCD) -- Prosecutors are accusing a man of killing his wife in 2021 and burning her body even though her remains have not yet been found.

Muskogee County court records show Dayan Banks is being charged with first-degree murder and desecration of a human corpse in connection with the death of his wife, Tamera Banks. She was last seen Nov. 15, 2021, at her home in Haskell, according to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.

A few weeks prior to her disappearance, on Oct. 25, 2021, Tamera Banks filed for an emergency protective order against her husband. The next day, Dayan Banks was charged with domestic assault, feloniously pointing a firearm, and disrupt/prevent/interrupt emergency telephone call.

According to the Muskogee Phoenix, prosecutors allege Dayan Banks killed Tamera on or around Nov. 15, 2021, and burned her body to cover up evidence.

Muskogee County District Attorney Larry Edwards told KOTV-TV that Tamera Banks failed to show up to a court hearing about her protective order on Nov. 16, 2021, which led to a missing persons report being filed.

Edwards said investigators suspected something was wrong when they went to her house and found her dog without food or water. Her phone, medications, and car were reportedly still at the home as well.

Court documents cited by KOTV allege Dayan Banks was having an affair with another woman. Dayan reportedly got upset Tamera wanted to sell his lawn mower, and she allegedly took out a gun and pointed it at him. The woman with whom he was having an affair said Dayan allegedly took the gun, shot Tamera, put her body in a horse trough, and burned it at a relative’s property in Okmulgee.

She reportedly said Dayan put Tamera’s remains in a plastic tote and left them in an abandoned home while burning some other remains a second time.

The Muskogee Phoenix reports Dayan Banks is being held without bond.

MORE:

• State of Oklahoma v. Dayan Banks
• Tamera Banks v. Dayan Banks
• State of Oklahoma v. Dayan Banks, 10/26/2021
• Haskell man charged in death of wife - Muskogee Phoenix
• MAN CHARGED WITH MURDERING HIS WIFE, BURNING HER BODY IN MUSKOGEE COUNTY - KOTV
• OSBI Searching for Missing Haskell Woman, 11/17/2021 - Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation