Christopher Vaughn

Case details

Christopher Vaughn was sentenced to four consecutive life terms on November 26, 2012 for the murders of his wife and three children.

Timeline

• 2007 (June 14) — Kimberly Vaughn and her three children were found shot to death in a parked sport-utility vehicle near Bluff Road and Interstate Highway 55 in Channahon Township. Christopher Vaughn, who was shot in the thigh, was found wounded and later treated and released from a Joliet Hospital.
• 2007 (June 15) — Investigators released statements indicating they had no grounds to charge anyone at that point and that the only survivor, Christopher Vaughn, had been released from police custody with his location unknown.
• 2007 (June 20) — Investigators removed three computers from Christopher Vaughn’s Oswego home and loaded computer hard drives, printers, and other electronic-related items.
• 2007 (June 22) — Hundreds gathered for a memorial for Kimberly Vaughn and her children in the suburbs of St. Louis; Christopher Vaughn attended the visitation.
• 2007 (June 23) — Christopher Vaughn was arrested in St. Charles, Missouri and charged with eight counts of first-degree murder.
• 2007 (July 5) — Prosecutors appeared via video feed; four of eight first-degree murder counts were dropped and the remaining charges alleged Christopher Vaughn shot his family with intent to kill.
• 2007 (July 27) — Christopher Vaughn pleaded not guilty.
• 2007 (December 21) — Documents about Christopher Vaughn’s $1 million life insurance policy on his wife were discussed as potential motive evidence.
• 2009 (December 16) — Prosecutors and the defense agreed to conduct tests on a jacket worn by Christopher Vaughn on the morning of the murders.
• 2012 (November 26) — A Will County judge sentenced Christopher Vaughn to four consecutive life terms.

Background

Christopher Vaughn wanted to leave his suburban life and prosecutors said he dreamed of life in the Canadian wilderness. Prosecutors said he decided to kill his family and embark on a survivalist sojourn in the Yukon. The weeks before the slayings included stockpiling camping gear and spending thousands of dollars at strip clubs.

Christopher Vaughn declined to address the court before sentencing.

The offence

In 2007, Christopher Vaughn murdered his family after pulling their SUV off Interstate 55 onto an isolated frontage road near Channahon on the way to what he said was a surprise trip to a Springfield water park.

Prosecutors said Vaughn shoved his handgun under Kimberly’s chin and shot her, then turned the gun on his sleeping children. The three children were shot once in the head and once in the torso. Blake was apparently shot last after raising his arms in an attempt to fend off the fatal bullets.

Kimberly Vaughn, 34, was killed first. The children were Abigayle “Abbi” Vaughn, 12; Cassandra “Sandi” Vaughn, 11; and Blake Vaughn, 8.

• Abigayle Vaughn was slain while clutching a Harry Potter book and a stuffed animal.
• Cassandra Vaughn was slain while trying to persuade her mom to let her start a dog-walking business.
• Blake Vaughn was slain last; he loved baseball and had an outsized vocabulary.

During the trial, the defense argued that Kimberly had killed the children and then herself. Jurors returned guilty verdicts in September after deliberating for just 45 minutes.

Investigation

Authorities found the bodies inside a 2004 Ford Expedition after a 911 call from a passerby. Illinois State Police found the bodies when they came to Bluff Road near Interstate Highway 55 in Channahon Township. Authorities declined to say who the suspected shooter was, other than describing it as an apparent domestic dispute. Police believed nobody else was involved in the shootings.

Scene and evidence

A handgun was found at the scene. Evidence was sent to the state crime lab in Joliet, and a gunshot residue test was to be processed to determine who fired the shots. Other tests focused on the angle and proximity of the shots that killed the mother and children.

Investigators searched Christopher Vaughn’s Oswego home and removed three computers, computer hard drives, printers, and electronic components. Investigators also loaded other computer components into vehicles and used two vehicles because of the amount of material.

A 911 call was made after Christopher Vaughn was found wounded near the vehicle; prosecutors and investigators questioned why Christopher did not use a phone to call 911 for help.

Competing accounts

Christopher Vaughn initially told investigators that his wife had shot him, that his wife shot the children dead, and that he had committed suicide. After nine days, authorities concluded the evidence indicated otherwise and brought charges against him. At an earlier stage, reports described that Christopher Vaughn implicated his wife and also described a sequence in which his wife fired a handgun after he returned to the SUV, then he was shot and fled, and when he returned the family members were dead.

During other court appearances, prosecutors and the defense discussed testing a jacket worn by Christopher Vaughn on the morning of the murders.

Arrest and pretrial

Christopher Vaughn was arrested at 7 a.m. on Saturday in St. Charles, Missouri while arriving at the funeral home for services for his wife and three children. He was held without bond when he arrived in Illinois and had been held in Missouri on $1 million cash bond waiting extradition to Illinois.

Christopher Vaughn resisted extradition but was later returned to Illinois.

Trial

At trial, the prosecution presented testimony including testimony from two former strippers whom Vaughn plied with cash and an FBI expert who translated 140 pages of runic writings that Christopher Vaughn had scribbled in a notebook while in jail awaiting trial.

The translated writings included an interest in druidism and referenced one of the exotic dancers. Vaughn’s wife and children were not mentioned in the writings.

Much of the trial focused on blood evidence that prosecutors said proved Vaughn murdered his family. The defense argued that Kimberly killed the children and then herself.

Sentencing

On November 26, 2012, a Will County judge sentenced Christopher Vaughn to four consecutive life terms.

The sentence was described as a foregone conclusion under Illinois law. State’s Attorney James Glasgow said: “There isn’t a punishment that fits this crime.” He added: “You could lock him up for 500 lifetimes and it would not compensate the victims in this case or the family members.”

Judge Daniel Rozak said before imposing the sentence that he was “very frustrated” by restrictions linked to Illinois ending the death penalty.

Vaughn told Judge Daniel Rozak: “No, thank you.”

Outcome

Christopher Vaughn was found guilty by jurors in September after deliberating for just 45 minutes, and later received four consecutive life terms on November 26, 2012.

Aftermath

Kimberly Vaughn’s mother, Susan Phillips, called Vaughn “a selfish coward” and said he chose not to leave or divorce but to “destroy … the very best thing that he had, a loving wife and three amazing children” and cause her family enormous pain. Susan Phillips also said: “All this tragedy, because one person just could not walk away.”

Kimberly Vaughn’s identical twin sister, Jennifer Ledbetter, said she feared Kimberly’s looks and personality traits were painful reminders for the rest of the family’s absence and violent death. Ledbetter said: “It crushes my heart,” and later said her anger and that she looked at Christopher Vaughn as she spoke of “the betrayal by a man we welcomed into our lives and loved as family.” Ledbetter also said: “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,” referring to the four slain family members.

Del Phillips said the family never saw any sign that Christopher Vaughn was dangerous and said he had hoped for an explanation or apology. Del Phillips said: “I don’t think he felt what we feel when he held our (grand)children.”

After sentencing, Kimberly’s family hugged and shook hands with investigators.

Channahon Police officer Sgt. Steve Weiss said he was haunted for a time by what he saw the day of the murders and gave the following remarks:

• “When you first opened the door, it looked like they all should be sleeping,” he said.
• “You couldn't believe it.” Weiss said the life sentences were a proper end for a man who killed those closest to him so he could live out his wilderness fantasy and stated: “He's going to get the opposite of what he wants,” and “There can't be a more fitting end for him than that.”

Other details

• The sentence followed testimony where Vaughn’s restraints made a clanking sound as he appeared to wipe his eye during testimony and he looked back over his shoulder at his family before being led from the courtroom.
• Two former strippers testified during the trial; the investigation also included translating runic writings.
• Kimberly Vaughn’s sister explained her fear of resemblance after Kimberly’s death.
• Evidence processing described included substantial amounts of evidence: clothing and personal evidence from Christopher Vaughn and deceased family members, the vehicle involved, and surrounding area.
• The children and mother were described as residents of Oswego.