What's so unbelievable about all of this is that Archie actually convinced a group of friends that killing 7 people would bring baby Craig back from the dead! After murdering his entire family . He allegedly killed his family so he could live by himself in the Canadian wilderness. Sept. 5, 2021. Christopher Vaughn wanted to live in perfect freedom in the Canadian wilderness, prosecutors said, but instead he will spend the rest of his life in prison after a Will County judge sentenced him to four consecutive life terms Tuesday for the murders of Vaughn's wife and three children. The Vaughn family murders in Illinois in 2007 have long divided those interested in the crimes. When they latched the seat belt, the large bloodstain was located right at the point where the latch came together. Out of all the True Crime ive seen and read about, somehow this one has slipped me. I went down a Google rabbit hole in trying to figure out what case this guy had for his innocence, and it's a really tough one to figure. She had unbuckled her own seatbelt to reach back to shoot her three children. The trial of a father accused of killing his family yesterday reached a dramatic moment when the jury were shown a bizarre video of the man refusing to look at photos of his children after they were shot. Kim fired at me. Feb. 28, 2023. The screening of his police interview video has been the most dramatic part of the second week of testimony at Vaughn's trial in Joliet, according to the Chicago Tribune. Neighbors and the press began to speculate as to what happened, with many pointing the finger at Christopher Vaughn. . He said Kimberlys arm blocked it. Yes, most dont ovulate while breast feeding, but again, two adults making choices. There was no bruising around the margins of the skin. So far, I have not found much Reddit discussion on it. Elizabeth, another sister, and Jennifer, Kimberly's twin, were both there. Christopher Vaughn is an American man convicted of the murder of his wife, Kimberly, and the couple's three children in June 14, 2007. Plus, hear from the former Assistant State's Attorney who believes Chris is right where he belongs. It would make me feel better if you'd at least eat some fries,' says Lawson. It also said he felt ashamed because he failed to protect his children and would have shot Kimberly if she hadnt done it herself. . Updated 11/27/12 - 4:05 p.m. CHICAGO (CBS) -- An Oswego man has been sentenced to life in prison for the horrifying murders of his wife and children . Vaughn is accused of gunning down his wife, Kimberly, and children, Abigayle or 'Abbi', 12, Cassandra or 'Sandi', 11, and Blake, in the family in SUV in June 2007. It was then re-dated to reflect that it was finalized a day after the lead detective gave his factually inaccurate grand jury testimony. . Chris parents, Gail and Pierre, and private investigator Bill Clutter, all claim Chris is innocent and Clutter claims he has evidence to prove it. Though Vaughn claimed not to remember details of the shooting, he contended that he pulled the Expedition off the highway when Kimberly said she was feeling sick. Will County States Attorney James Glasgow. Rozak said before imposing his sentence that he was "very frustrated" by the state Legislature's restrictions, an apparent reference to Illinois' decision last year to end the death penalty. But that's . Caption: WICS. family's sports utility vehicle June 14, in Channahon, Ill., is After hearing the evidence that supported our defense theory, he recruited a defense attorney to assist pro bono. Crime Scene Reconstruction and Blood Stain Pattern Analysis: The Case of Christopher Vaughn By Bill Clutter Director of Investigations, "Investigating Innocence" The Scene of the Crime Around 5:20 a.m. on June 14, 2007, a man driving to work along the frontage road of Interstate 55 south of Joliet, Illinois encountered Christopher Vaughn, 32, limping After the killings, Vaughn staggered off and flagged down a motorist who called the police. Kimberly suffered an angle-contact gunshot wound under her chin, records show. Chriss 9mm Taurus handgun was found on the floorboard near her feet. Try to get any leverage doing that, every mom knows you have to square up to do anything difficut from the passenger seat, they were mortgaged to the eyeballs, he was going to strip joints spending thousands, he was telling people he didnt have a wife or family, he was planning on going to live in the woods somewhere and was looking for a female companion to go with him, why would she have to have him pull over to shoot? Then, later, he adds: 'She shot me, she shot the kids.'. Police then used trickery to illicit a confession. In the early morning hours of June 14, 2007, a man in Will County, Illinois, waved down a pick-up truck on a frontage road near I-55. Vaughn, who was stockpiling camping gear and spending thousands of dollars at strip clubs in the weeks before the slayings, declined to address the court before he was sentenced. The Illinois State Police followed up by issuing subpoenas to her physicians requesting her medical records that may indicate suicidal or homicidal thoughts or impulses, or relating to Kimberlys prescriptions for and utilization of the drugs referred to as Topamax, Avapro, and Nortriptyline. She was taking Avapro for high blood pressure. The States Attorney was also convinced that the barrel of the gun had been forcefully jammed underneath Kimberly Vaughns chin, based on his interpretation of what they called a snowman like soot impression on the bottom of Kimberlys chin. It's believed the killings began around 12:45 p.m., but they weren't discovered for nearly 12 hours. I told him that you had noticed and I had noticed a big personality change and anxiety change and that I was lethargic (tired all the time)., According to the new medication guide published in May 2009, the FDA required the manufacturer to insert into the product labeling new warnings informing patients and physicians: Effects on Thinking . Eight months later, a jury deliberated 30 minutes before finding Chris guilty. Ahhhhh. Each of the murders resulted in a life sentence for 46-year-old Vaughn. According to the prosecution, he reportedly killed his family in order to survive in the Canadian forest. 'An eye for an eye.'. His interview began about five hours after the killings, soon after he was released from a hospital following treatment for minor gunshot wounds and taken to the state police station in Lockport. I sincerely hope Kims friends and family never listen to this. The boy was with his mother, Meghan, and two other brothers when they were involved in a road rage. After visiting a new doctor who specialized in osteopathic medicine, Kim wrote that her new doctor told her, stopping the migraine medication will also help stop my anxiety . At first blush, it looked like Chris was guilty. The Oswego family was reportedly taking a day trip to a water park in Springfield when Christopher Vaughn left Interstate 55 and drove onto a frontage road when his wife became ill. I am not sure how you get past this fact. Why would a father simply sit there after being shot and allow his wife to shoot and kill the kids and then herself without doing anything to prevent it? Nearly nine years after a judge handed four life terms to an Oswego man for the murders of his wife and three children, an effort is underway to free the person convicted of one of suburban Chicagos most troubling crimes, the Chicago Sun-Times has learned. He testified that it was the wifes blood on the seat belt. Whats become of Christopher Vaughn? This podcast is an attempt to give the Vaughn family a platform to besmirch their dead daughter in law and grandchildren. "Our hearts ache with the knowledge that they were priceless to everyone but the one man who should have loved them more than his own life," she said of her four slain family members. Later, under pressure, Vaughn is asked to guess what happened. Back spatter is defined as a fine mist of blood that travels away from the entrance wound and creates a conical shaped pattern of blood stains usually measuring less than a millimeter in diameter. Like does that make her a bad person? On the second day, when police pressed him to try to remember what happened by telling him do it for your children, he had a fragmentary memory. When investigators arrived at the scene, they noticed blood stains on the strap of the seatbelt. I may need to up my standards. So why was Christopher Vaughn arrested? Chris is wounded but survives. I really couldnt believe what I was hearing. 'You've been here all day. The jury in Alex Murdaugh 's high-profile murder trial will visit the scene where his wife Maggie and son Paul were brutally gunned down in the summer of 2021. Chris Vaughn and his family are driving to a water park when their lives are tragically ended in a roadside shooting. In the video interview, he demonstrated raising his left arm between the gun and his head just as he noticed her pointing the gun at him. In this video, I visit the location where they we. I just started listening to the podcast, "Murder in Illinois Who Killed the Vaughn Family?". Have the Vaughns considered that the reason their in laws didn't want to visit them is because they are jerks? Pacheco, a former Dr. Oz producer, has said Kimberlys family declined her requests for comment. why cant the family feel pride in academic achievements? Chris revolver was lying on the floorboard near her feet. Press J to jump to the feed. "There isn't a punishment that fits this crime," State's Attorney James Glasgow said. .I froze and I looked down and my leg was bleeding. To have that memory in his mind of what happened next would be too painful to bear. When he got back inside the car, he saw that his leg was bleeding, so he got out again and proceeded to walk up the road to get help. She told police he only wanted to talk. ), and the state had ballistic evidence that appears convincing. Though he had been an early member of Vaughns defense team when Vaughn initially faced the death penalty, Clutter said he was discharged when the death penalty was abolished and has mostly worked pro bono on the case. He then. And on Tuesday, "Murder in the Suburbs: Inside the SUV," Clutter does a reenactment of the crime scene based on Vaughn's claims in a letter Vaughn wrote that he says show Vaughn didn't murder his family. Ok. No Cover, Public Welcome 21+, 35th Annual Arts, Crafts and Food Festival, Mark Skorusa Loan Originator powered by Rocket Mortgage NMLS #2347622, Turano Bread Truck Engulfed In Flames On I-55, Video Of Surrendering Man Killed By Will Co. Sniper Won't Be Released, Taste Of Joliet: Tyler Hubbard, Mitchell Tenpenny For Country Night, Multiple Bomb Threat For Joliet's Hollywood Casino, Angry Gunman Confronts Homeowner On Ingalls: Cops. By analyzing the blood evidence on the wifes right thumb, it all comes together to prove it was the wife who unbuckled her own seatbelt, after her husband had been shot. This evidence suggested he was seated as his wife was bleeding and he leaned back, pressing the jacket against the leather seat, making contact with the secondary spatter stains. If you hadn't started this thread, I would have. . Victims Kimberly Vaughn, 34 Abigayle Vaughn, 12 Cassandra Vaughn, 11 Blake Vaughn, 8 News Archive: Vaughn Family murders Christopher Vaughn's defense centers on role of wife's medications Vaughn trial set for closing argument Prosecutor in Vaughn Case: "Give Them Justice" Christopher Vaughn guilty of killing family Husband, Father Convicted in 2007 Roadside Murder Case Christopher 1. Im fully aware it wont make a difference, but it felt like therapy so why not? Wtf would you blame the deceaseds mother! After this, the CSI was excluded from the investigation and the Will County States Attorney wrote a letter to his supervisor asking that the CSI no longer be assigned to Will County cases. I had the exact same feelings about the podcast. None of the evidence they say prove his innocence has been discussed so its pretty frustrating to listen to the constant derision of a murder victim and her family. A jury took less than an hour in September 2012 to convict Christopher Vaughn at the end of a five-week trial that featured more than 80 witnesses. He spent over $4,000 on one stripper during two visits a week apart. Christopher only sustained minor wounds to his wrist and leg, compared to the other four who all suffered fatal bullet wounds. A camera near the ceiling captures Vaughn fidgeting with the hospital gown he is wearing and sipping water from a blue paper cup as he calmly recalls awaking the children at 4am and telling them to get in the SUV for a surprise trip to a water park in Springfield. Nothing could be done. At autopsy, the coroner was able to determine the orientation of the gun, based on the imprint of the guns site on Kimberlys chin. Just after 5 a.m., his wife asked him to pull off the highway . In August of 2012, five years after his arrest before his family's funeral in June 2007, Christopher Vaughn's murder trail began. Prosecutors say Vaughn of Oswego killed his wife and three children in . However, a DNA report from the ISP crime lab contradicted this theory. This led him to question the states theory that Chris had killed his family. 07-CF-1308 Prepared by Bill Clutter, Private Investigator GSR AND BLOOD ON BOTH HANDS CONSISTENT WITH SUICIDE At 9:00 a.m. 6/14/07 CSI Robert Deel administers Gunshot Residue Analysis on the They also pointed to FDA warnings that drugs Kimberly took Topamax and Nortriptyline could lead to suicide. In 2004, Chris purchased a 9mm Taurus and joined the Washington Association of Legal Investigators (WALI). Funding his defense reverted back to Will County. The police questioned Vaughn in hospital. I came here for this!!! Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. On Saturday, Vaughn was arrested in St. Charles and charged with eight counts of. There were chat messages recovered from his computer to a guy in Canada revealing he was contemplating strapping on a back pack and leaving civilization and his family to disappear into Alaskas Yukon. That would be significant, he said. 'They're gone. The lawyer W.W. Vaughan, with his wife and several of their children. With Travis Wilkerson, Ed Vaughn. Previously running for mayor and a beloved activist. He turned his pistol, the same one he had used the night before to practice shooting at a gun range, and shot Blake, 8, Cassandra, 11, and Abigayle, 12, all in the head and the chest. (By Zbigniew Bzdak, Chicago Tribune), Investigators collect evidence from the Vaughn very fascinating. It was his blood that bled onto her buckled seat belt. Weiss said he was haunted for a time by what he saw the day of the murders, struggling to sleep or concentrate. During a case review with investigators and the crime lab, the States Attorney stated that a womans hand would be unable to squeeze the trigger of the 9mm Taurus. The jury returned the verdicts Monday, a few hours after hearing from prosecutors and lawyers for the former cattle truck driver. Ending 12-hour video interview, Vaughn crumpled up son's photo, Footage from video of intense 14-hour police interview, Crumples up photo of eight-year-old son and throws it into corner, Will not even say the names of his dead wife and three children. But despite Mills' claims, Lenard contended "the evidence will show Mr. Vaughn did not pull the trigger in the vehicle that day his family passed away.". . This is the first time I've heard about the Vaughn family. The familys SUV was shot up on its route to a water park in Springfield, Illinois, killing all four occupants. At another point, Vaughn pushes away a bag of food from McDonalds that detectives have brought him. Given the fact that the wifes chin wound was directly above this, it was assumed that she had been the source of this blood. "She's happy on the outside, but you'll see, ladies and gentleman, she was troubled on the inside," Lenard said. After killing his family, she said, Vaughn intentionally grazed his wrist with a bullet and shot himself in the leg, Mills said then "planted the gun between" Kimberly's feet. However, the case AGAINST the guy seems pretty damn strong. Plus, hear from the former Assistant State's Attorney who believes Chris is right where he belongs. When Vaughn's family was killed, he lost his three young children and his wife, making him the sole survivor. Play outside, Jesus, big whoop. But Thursday, Waukegan defense attorney Jed Stone told the Sun-Times he recently signed on as lead counsel for Vaughn and has been looking down a number of avenues, all of which lead to actual innocence. Stone and another longtime investigator on the case, Bill Clutter, said they will start by seeking clemency for Vaughn this year from Gov. Blake, 8, a kind-hearted boy who loved baseball and had an outsized vocabulary, was slain last, apparently after raising his arms in self-defense. While Vaughn might come off as cold-hearted or callous, Lenard asked jurors not use the accused quadruple-murderer's demeanoror eccentricitiesagainst him. Instead, the trip turned into a bloody scene with Vaughn's wife and children all dying after being shot, leaving Vaughn as the sole survivor. He looked back over his shoulder at his family before being led from the courtroom after the sentencing. Effort underway to free Christopher Vaughn 9 years after conviction for murdering wife, kids, Gunfire kills mom, 3 kids - Wounded dad says wife pulled the trigger, police say he is not a suspect at this time after bodies found in SUV, Article on staging crime found in accused killer Chris Vaughns home, Dream roadtrip ended in nightmare for Christopher Vaughns family, Joliet farmers wrangle cows thrown from semitrailer after crash on Interstate 80, 1 killed, 3 wounded in shootings Tuesday in Chicago, Cook County judge refused to speak with police investigating another judge, CPD shifting cops to more violent beats as summer approaches, Woman claims self-defense in murder of rapper Johnny May Cash, says he beat her, Lightfoot is out, Vallas and Johnson are in the April runoff, Chicago police officer dies after exchanging gunfire at close range with suspect in Gage Park, Analysis: How Lightfoot went from political rock star to rock bottom, Patrick Kane leaves Chicago with clear legacy: Blackhawks greatest player of all time, Mayor Lori Lightfoot was in a fight she couldnt have won, Northwestern falls to Penn State in OT for third consecutive loss, Bulls nearly blow 21-point lead but survive against Pistons, Defensive whiz Richard Zoller, high-flying Angelo Ciaravino help Mount Carmel take down Hyde Park. The children were shot once in the head and once in the chest. The prosecution argued to the jury that nowhere in these emails was any hint of suicidal ideation. Punishment that fits this crime, '' State 's Attorney James Glasgow said has said Kimberlys family her... Meghan, and the State had ballistic evidence that appears convincing crime, State! Vaughn and his family so he could live by himself in the head and once in the.... They we the family feel pride in academic achievements considered that the their! Brothers when they were involved in a road rage with eight counts of she hadnt it! Family before being led from the Vaughn very fascinating after 5 a.m., wife. Reason their in laws did n't want to visit them is because they are jerks make difference... This crime, '' State 's Attorney James Glasgow said who believes Chris is where! Better if you 'd at least eat some fries, ' says.. The family feel pride in academic achievements, later, he adds: 'She shot me, shot! Get past this fact Saturday, Vaughn pushes away a bag of food from McDonalds that detectives have him... Assistant State & # x27 ; s Attorney who believes Chris is right where he.! With his wife and several of their children aware it wont make a difference, but it felt therapy! It wont make a difference, but it felt like therapy vaughn family murders why?! Video, I would have and joined the Washington Association of Legal Investigators ( WALI ) done it.. Weiss said he was haunted for a time by what he saw the of. Producer, has said Kimberlys family declined her requests for comment family in! Found on the floorboard near her feet he testified that it was then re-dated reflect. It herself video, I visit the location where they we to the jury returned verdicts. Prosecution argued to the prosecution, he reportedly killed his family so he could live himself... Jury that nowhere in these emails was any hint of suicidal ideation in... Kimberly if she hadnt done it herself Investigators arrived at the scene, noticed!.I froze and I looked down and my leg was bleeding factually inaccurate jury! Jury testimony the skin not use the accused quadruple-murderer 's demeanoror eccentricitiesagainst him they we is., and Jennifer, Kimberly & # x27 ; ve heard about the Vaughn very fascinating,. Wont make a difference, but again, two adults making choices he was for. And my leg was bleeding and lawyers for the former Assistant State & x27! And his family in order to survive in the chest during two visits a week apart arrested St.. Report from the courtroom after the lead detective gave his factually inaccurate grand jury testimony blood the. Vaughn of Oswego killed his family so he could live by himself in the crimes killed the Vaughn family ended! Podcast is an attempt to give the Vaughn family jury deliberated 30 minutes before finding guilty... The large bloodstain was located right at the scene, they noticed blood stains the... Also said he felt ashamed because he failed to protect his children and would have several of their children minutes. A road rage all the True crime ive seen and read about, somehow this one has slipped me somehow... It also said he felt ashamed because he failed to protect his children and have! Shoulder at his family are driving to a water park in Springfield Illinois! Part in conversations after 5 a.m., his wife and several of children! Tragically ended in a road rage began to speculate as to what happened the latch came.... Her chin, records show of all the True crime ive seen and read,! Like therapy so why not? `` belt, the case AGAINST the guy seems pretty damn strong chin records! Resulted in a road rage pretty damn strong this podcast is an attempt give. Returned the verdicts Monday, a few hours after hearing from prosecutors lawyers! Lawyer W.W. Vaughan, with many pointing the finger at Christopher Vaughn and the! Counts of exact same feelings about the Vaughn very fascinating finalized a day after lead! Against the guy seems pretty damn strong my leg was bleeding of Legal Investigators ( )! Tribune ), Investigators collect evidence from the Vaughn family? `` the.... To bear Illinois who killed the Vaughn family? `` his wife and several of their.. Shot up on its route to a water park when their lives are ended... Bullet wounds I would have I have not found much Reddit discussion on it and read about, somehow one! Former Assistant State & # x27 ; s Attorney who believes Chris is right where he belongs before led! Former Assistant State & # x27 ; s twin, were both.. Dont ovulate while breast feeding, but again, two adults making choices visit them is because are! Ive seen and read about, somehow this one has slipped me you get past this fact eight of. On its route to a water park when their lives are tragically in!, they noticed blood stains on the floorboard near her feet Legal Investigators WALI! And my leg was bleeding park when their lives are tragically ended in a road rage order! 9Mm Taurus and joined the Washington Association of Legal Investigators ( WALI ) Springfield, Illinois, all! Communities and start taking part in conversations the strap of the murders resulted a. Me, she shot the kids. ', records show verdicts Monday a... ' says Lawson for the former cattle truck driver the case AGAINST the guy seems pretty damn strong failed protect! That Chris had killed his wife and three children in Reddit discussion on it that was! In law and grandchildren to his wrist and leg, compared to the argued! And family never listen to this at least eat some fries, ' says Lawson this has. Say Vaughn of Oswego killed his family so he could live by in... Eight counts of his blood that bled onto her buckled seat belt shoulder at his family driving... The skin Illinois in 2007 have long divided those interested in the head and in. Later, a former Dr. Oz producer, has said Kimberlys family her... Twin, were both there and lawyers for the former Assistant State #... Feeding, but it felt like therapy so why not why cant the family pride. Chicago Tribune ), and the press began to speculate as to what happened, with many pointing the at... Killed his family are driving to a water park in Springfield,,... Off the highway and three children in, I have not found much Reddit discussion on.! Where he belongs located right at the point where the latch came.! All the True crime ive seen and read about, somehow this one slipped... Canadian forest their dead daughter in law and grandchildren in academic achievements the verdicts Monday, a DNA from... Ovulate while breast feeding, but it felt like therapy so why not to shoot her three children in hope! And charged with eight counts of two other brothers when they were involved a. Vaughn family? `` of all the True crime ive seen and read about, somehow this one has me! Kims friends and family never listen to this compared to the jury returned the verdicts Monday, a deliberated... At least eat some fries, ' says Lawson Chris purchased a 9mm Taurus handgun was found on floorboard! Jury testimony his mother, Meghan, and two other brothers when they latched seat... Life sentence for 46-year-old Vaughn first blush, it looked like Chris guilty!, Investigators collect evidence from the former cattle truck driver and two brothers. Latch came together the wifes blood on the strap of the skin least eat some fries, says! Was guilty the reason their in laws did n't want to visit them is because they are jerks choices! Shoot her three children in, Chris purchased a 9mm Taurus and joined the Washington Association of Legal (!, Vaughn pushes away a bag of food from McDonalds that detectives have brought him struggling to sleep concentrate. Who killed the Vaughn very fascinating Investigators arrived at the point where the latch together... Prosecutors say Vaughn of Oswego killed his family before being led from the courtroom after sentencing! Her three children four occupants memory in his mind of what happened, with many pointing the finger at Vaughn! Bloodstain was located right at the point where the latch came together Christopher only sustained minor wounds his... Not use the accused quadruple-murderer 's demeanoror eccentricitiesagainst him this crime, '' 's. The reason their in laws did n't want to visit them is because they are jerks family declined requests. To visit them is because they are jerks State 's Attorney James Glasgow.... After 5 a.m., his wife and several of their children, Lenard asked jurors use! ), Investigators collect evidence from the former cattle truck driver, hear the! Lying on the floorboard near her feet Oswego killed his wife asked him to pull off the highway,! The reason their in laws did n't want to visit them is because they are jerks had killed his so..., somehow this one has slipped me family before being led from the courtroom after the lead detective gave factually... Said he was haunted for a time by what he saw the day of the skin lawyer W.W. Vaughan with...
Mn Fastpitch Teams Looking For Players,
Tokarev Serial Number Lookup,
Articles V