The Illinois State Police declined this month to refer questions to the FBI about the case of Christopher Vaughn, the Oswego man convicted of the murders of his wife and three children who has become the subject of a high-profile exoneration effort. 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. . But what we see on the left thumb is seepage of blood from the wound, creating large patterns of passive blood drops. But the father does not respond. Kimberly Vaughn, 34, who had recently completed an online degree in criminal justice, was killed first, prosecutors said. Vaughn, Kimberly Ellen (nee Phillips), Oswego, IL, June 14, 2007 age 34. 'Today I lost everything,' Vaughn says on the video, later referring to how tired he is. The back side of Chriss jacket had a transfer stain in a straight line just under the right shoulder blade extending down to the waist of the jacket. To keep creating Christopher Vaughn, of Oswego, Illinois, is charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of his wife and three children on June 14, 2007. Have the Vaughns considered that the reason their in laws didn't want to visit them is because they are jerks? He testified that it was the wifes blood on the seat belt. the Murderpedia project stay alive. The program is hosted by Lauren Bright Pacheco who examines the complicated . !Go listen to Episode 17 of Court Junkie for a more fact/evidence based account. The familys SUV was shot up on its route to a water park in Springfield, Illinois, killing all four occupants. The prosecution argued to the jury that nowhere in these emails was any hint of suicidal ideation. The DSM-IV gave an example that a person may suffer this condition if they are the sole survivor and witness their entire family die in an automobile crash. That was really off putting. According to the prosecution, he reportedly killed his family in order to survive in the Canadian forest. The Oswego man, now 38, murdered his family in 2007 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. After hiding a handgun under her chin, Kimberly Vaughn was shot in the head. 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 When the mom says one of the daughters was a lot like Kim except she was warm and loving it made me irate. There is a transfer stain of blood on the inside of Kimberlys right thumb. . Hargon received life in prison in the third slaying. Early in June 2007, Chris Vaughn, 32, was discovered hobbling from his SUV after suffering two non-fatal gunshot wounds. In August of 2012, five years after his arrest before his family's funeral in June 2007, Christopher Vaughn's murder trail began. He did this so he could later claim Kimberly shot him and the three children before turning the gun on herself, and that he was lucky enough to be the only one to leave the SUV with his life, Mills said. Brad Pitt and Daughter Shiloh Share the Same Passions: They Have an Unbreakable Bond, What Caused Jackie Reeds Death? For some inexplicable reason, this report, received before the probable cause hearing, was marked draft. Christopher Vaughn was convicted nine years ago for the murder of his wife and three kids, who were found shot to death inside the family's SUV, parked near Channahon in 2007. Your son murdered them and you are talking smack about their daughter, no way I would have allowed them to be there. She had unbuckled her own seatbelt to reach back to shoot her three children. Convicted of murder after a two-day trial in May 1945, Hall was sentenced to death. The mistake he made, they told him, was parking the vehicle under the cell phone tower. Even more compelling evidence supporting a murder-suicide came over a year after Chris was arrested when the Food and Drug Administration recommended a black box warning for a risk of suicidal behavior for the medicine Kimberly was taking to treat her stress-induced migraine headaches. On November 9, 1971, 46-year-old accountant John List killed his entire family in their Westfield, NJ, mansion. 1. This led him to question the states theory that Chris had killed his family. Channahon Firefighter-Paramedic Ryan Jandura said he found a Harry Potter book and a stuffed animal by 12-year-old Abigayle's body. There was no sexual contact, not even a lap dance. The first entrance hole was the front right pocket; the second an exit hole near the back bottom left side of the jacket. We asked the doctor who prescribed the Topamax about his patients email to her husband. Its drivers-side window was broken. If they wanted to appear more balanced, they could have edited out parts that favor Chris and put down the wife's family but they didn't. Kim fired at me. Gone was the Capital Litigation Trust Fund, a $20 million statewide fund created as one of the reforms to level the playing field by providing funding for defense experts, investigators, and experienced criminal defense attorneys. The sentence a foregone conclusion under Illinois law came after Kimberly Vaughn's mother and identical twin sister read statements detailing the devastation the family has suffered, her mother in a matter-of-fact tone and her sister in tears. The psychiatrist said this nuance of detail would be difficult to fake. When investigators arrived at the scene, they noticed blood stains on the strap of the seatbelt. Unholy Rollers January 21 2014 22min TV-14 Subtitles Subtitles English [CC] 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. The jury returned the verdicts Monday, a few hours after hearing from prosecutors and lawyers for the former cattle truck driver. ", Steve Schmadeke and Chicago Tribune reporter. the forensics and all circumstantial evidence, including Chris own words and online conversations point to one scenario, hes a family annihilator . There was no bruising around the margins of the skin. 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. Kimberlys doctor began to prescribe a cocktail of medications to relieve her migraine headaches, including the prescription medications Nortriptyline and Topamax. This could be due to my lack of search skills. He spends much of the gruelling 12-hour interview with his face in his hands or down on the table. Researchers reopened the Michael Francke Murder in . I forgot, his co worker said they went out on a work trip, partied, came back to the hotel at 1AM and later Chris said he went back out, returned at 5AM and chris eluded to things getting wild during that time. Kimberly Phillips was born on December 12, 1972, to Del and Susan Phillips of Saint Charles, Missouri. TOP 10%. He also said Kimblery was taking medication for migraine headaches and an antidepressant that may have made her suicidal. The evidence was overwhelming and conclusive. And in Stone, Vaughn has enlisted the same attorney who represents Marni Yang, the woman convicted of killing the pregnant girlfriend of former Chicago Bear Shaun Gayle another case being challenged. "He's going to get the opposite of what he wants," Weiss said. Her apartment was set on fire, and her body was burned beyond . The Colorado father and oil worker was convicted of murdering his pregnant wife Shanann, their unborn child, and their two children, Celeste and Bella, ages 4 and 3. Murder in Illinois follows the complicated circumstances that led to Vaughn's conviction, as well as the forensic evidence his supporters believe proves his innocence- in . I may need to up my standards. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Murderpedia has thousands of hours of work behind it. Created after PI Paul Ciolino obtained a confession that freed Anthony Porter from death row in 1999, the fund was intended to provide resources for proving innocence before trial rather than after conviction. Accused Family Killer Christopher Vaughn Read Articles About Staging Crime Scenes: Prosecutors Updated: Monday, 27 Jun 2011, The documents show the Vaughn family s trip to Knight s Water Park in Springfield also was planned the night before the murders, reached after Vaughn s wife accused him of spending too little time with their kids. The family all dressed in water park attire because thats where they believed they were going. It was then re-dated to reflect that it was finalized a day after the lead detective gave his factually inaccurate grand jury testimony. Shelli Wiley was killed on a cold October morning in 1985 in Laramie, Wyo., just before the sun rose. ), and the state had ballistic evidence that appears convincing. His family, Abigayle, 12, Cassandra, 11, and Blake, 8, were found dead, seated together in the rear passenger seat, each shot twice. In some cases the memory may be restored days later, or not at all, according to the DSM-IV. Doesnt make him some kind of hero. Mr. Vaughn is quirky. Weiss said he was haunted for a time by what he saw the day of the murders, struggling to sleep or concentrate. My blood pressure explodes every week when another whiny, victim bashing, full of spin, low on facts episode is released. But there was one email she wrote to her husband on May 24, 2007, three weeks before her death that provides the best supporting evidence that she was experiencing dangerous side effects of her medications. its sad to me that before her death Kim was telling other people about her husbands good traits and she was looking into marriage counseling. seen Friday leaving a funeral home after the visitation in St. As investigators unravel the truth, they find that not everyone in this family was a happy camper. Jurors didn't buy the theory, returning guilty verdicts in September after deliberating for just 45 minutes. She had no idea. Joliet Drug Dealer Arrested On Briggs Street: Police, Walgreens Pharmacist Attacked After Man Visits Wrong Store: JPD. : Directed by Travis Wilkerson. No one owes them anything. 'Whatever they did, they deserve back,' said Vaughn. He had two survivable gunshot wounds. Despite this chain of events, Chris's family believe he's innocent. Police had given him every opportunity to blame his wife, but he responded, There was no way she could have hurt the kids. They told him that after 911 cell phone towers were equipped with security cameras. After listening to family members semi deify him, I wanted to read the facts against the man. He wore the same outfit to shoot at the range the night before, that gave him the gunshot residue, she was not a good shot, could not handle the recoil, yet she turns half way and fires off great shots? He allegedly killed his family so he could live by himself in the Canadian wilderness. The Vaughn family moved from Washington state to the Chicago area about a year ago, bringing their two dogs with them, according to the May 27 article. Eight months later, a jury deliberated 30 minutes before finding Chris guilty. Elizabeth, another sister, and Jennifer, Kimberly's twin, were both there. I was already put off by the "he looked too nice to be guilty", but the second episode was downright inappropriate. His three children had each been shot twice, and his wife had a single gunshot wound under her chin. (The McDonald case is probably also fresh in my mind because I recently listened to three part series on the case from The Prosecutors.). If these were self-inflicted injuries, why shoot yourself twice? the ISP CSI asked. So far, I have not found much Reddit discussion on it. TOPAMAX may cause depression or mood problems, tiredness, and sleepiness. Gov. . Approved by the FDA to treat epilepsy and seizures, Topamax has an off label use for the treatment of migraine headaches. Other side effects: acting aggressive, being angry or violent and acting on dangerous impulses.. Dead. Traces of his flesh and blood, and denim and polyester fibers consistent with the jacket and jeans were found on the bullet. The States Case Transfer stains occur when an object, like a thumb, comes into contact with a bloody object. "It crushes my heart," she said of being separated from her sister. I havent formed an opinion yet, but was looking to see what you guys think. Just because you feel inferior academically doesnt mean someone is else is forcing that superiority on you. Why take a shot like that at a dead woman?! Crucially, prosecutors also argued that two bullet holes in a jacket he wore had been created when someone wrapped the gun in the jacket to either silence or conceal the weapon, or to cushion a blow. This report was sent to the lead detective several days before he took the grand jury witness stand. blood stains occur not only during the bullet impact or exit (back spatter or forward spatter) but also following blood seepage or dripping from the wounds. That would be significant, he said. She was stabbed. Nothing could be done. 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. NL VFW Friday Fish Fry. 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. Then the doctor was asked what the significance would be taking both medications Nortriptyline and Topamax together. plans and enthusiasm I cannot believe his mom blames the other grandmother for subsequent pregnancies. "There isn't a punishment that fits this crime," State's Attorney James Glasgow said. At the National Innocence Conference in Cincinnati in April 2011, I ran into an old friendRob Warden, Executive Director of the Center on Wrongful Convictions at Northwestern University Law School. Her chief complaint on the day she went to see the osteopath was for the onset of high anxiety. RELATED: Jurors hear about Lakewood murder linked by DNA to 1984 killing of Bennett family Contact 9NEWS reporter Kevin Vaughan with tips about this or any story: kevin.vaughan@9news.com or 303 . Compared with what I knew about Kimberly, yes, that would be a big change. His lawyers argued Kimberly shot him and the kids and then killed herself. What the actual?! His wife passed a certification course and practiced shooting at a Seattle range. Charles, Mo. Evidence will show that Vaughn planned to take off and live in the Yukon wilderness, Mills said, and that before going "he wanted to be without any obligations.". Camren Wynter hit a three-pointer with 0.7 seconds left to give Penn State a 68-65 victory against Northwestern. Because he drove her to visit friends?! He then. Chris handgun was found on the floor near his wifes feet. The long-dormant Vaughn case has resurfaced through an iHeart Radio podcast, Murder in Illinois. An episode on Thursday offered a new theory of what happened in the Vaughn familys SUV while it was parked in a secluded area along a frontage road near Interstate 55 and Bluff Road. Season 1 explored a different case. She slumped toward the drivers seat and a river of blood flowed onto the center console, causing secondary spatter stains on the side of the drivers seat adjacent to the center console. They are lucky they were allowed to be at the funeral. Check local listings to see where you can watch. I can breathe again. They released Blackie. Ahhhhh. On Saturday, Vaughn was arrested in St. Charles and Wtf would you blame the deceaseds mother! In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, (DSM-IV), I found a condition known as Dissociative Amnesia, a form of memory loss caused when a person witnesses a traumatic event. He was in pants, tshirt AND long sleeve flannel shirt. None of this makes any logical sense. 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. She was athletic and played volleyball. 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. Before the death penalty went away, I was bringing in an expert to help explain this. 113K views 10 years ago Three years ago, the murder of one man's family stunned a small Illinois town. Play outside, Jesus, big whoop. While his family wore summer clothes befitting an excursion to a Springfield waterpark, Vaughn donned cowboy boots, blue jeans, a T-shirt with a long-sleeved shirt over it, and a fleece jacket he purchased on a secret trip to the Yukon, said Assistant State's Attorney Deborah Mills. That stripped away resources to defend Vaughn. I just started listening to the podcast, "Murder in Illinois Who Killed the Vaughn Family?". At one point, Sergeant Gary Lawson asks Vaughn what he thought the person who had killed his family deserved. whose wife and three children were found fatally shot in the Family life: Christopher Vaughn, 37, with his wife Kimberly and children (left to right) Cassandra, 11, Blake, eight, and Abigayle, 12. Elizabeth, another sister, and Jennifer, Kimberlys twin, were both there. Then, the surviving husband and father revealed that he had been getting threats. While Vaughn might come off as cold-hearted or callous, Lenard asked jurors not use the accused quadruple-murderer's demeanoror eccentricitiesagainst him. Circumstantial evidence, including Chris own words and online conversations point to one scenario, hes a family.. Email to her husband IL, June 14, 2007 vaughn family murders 34 can watch 1971, 46-year-old John... 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Person who had recently completed an online degree in criminal justice, was killed first, prosecutors said twin... Looking to see where you can watch depression or mood problems, tiredness, and in! Drug Dealer Arrested on Briggs Street: Police, Walgreens Pharmacist Attacked after Man Visits Wrong:! Plans and enthusiasm I can not believe his mom blames the other grandmother for subsequent pregnancies that. A handgun under her chin whiny, victim bashing, full of spin, low facts! Dressed in water park in Springfield, Illinois, killing all four occupants the kids and then killed.... The next time I comment his factually inaccurate grand jury witness stand by what wants. Entrance hole was the front right pocket ; the second episode was downright inappropriate Chris own and. Saw the day of the seatbelt asked what the significance would be taking both medications Nortriptyline and Topamax.! Hargon received life in prison in the Canadian wilderness jury testimony a three-pointer 0.7. 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vaughn family murders