Daniel Alan Vaughn, a 34-year-old Black man, was last seen during the nighttime hours of February 4, 2021, after visiting a residence on River Forest Drive in Flint Township. A Missing and Endangered Advisory was issued as police followed tips that he might have traveled to Beecher or Mt. Morris. On February 16, 2021, his body was found on the 1700 block of Marlowe Drive in Flint, and investigators determined foul play was involved, opening a homicide investigation.

Prosecutors say Vaughn was lured to a meeting arranged as a drug transaction and that Beinville Alexander III allegedly shot him inside Vaughn’s vehicle. Authorities contend Alexander then drove the car to Rankin Street, attempted to set the vehicle and remains on fire, and later moved the body to Marlowe Drive. Three people were arrested: Alexander and two alleged accomplices, Trevyan Harris and Maranda Ide, who were charged with helping move the body and attempting to burn it.

In February 2022 Alexander pleaded no contest to a reduced manslaughter count and guilty to nine other felonies, and in April 2022 was given a minimum 17 1/2 to 40 years plus a consecutive two-year firearm term under a Killebrew agreement. The cases against Harris and Ide were still pending at that time. Did anyone in Flint know Vaughn or see him on February 4, 2021?