Vaughn happened to use the same gun to practice shooting at a range the night before the killings, Mills mentioned. He recommended we retain ballistics expert Lucien Haag. There was no sexual contact, not even a lap dance. I couldnt drive the truck. 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! Vaughn's wife and children were never mentioned in the writings, but there was a reference to one of the exotic dancers. Then, the surviving husband and father revealed that he had been getting threats. It was a lonely life for Kimberly. His . "There can't be a more fitting end for him than that. His wife passed a certification course and practiced shooting at a Seattle range. The fact it was either him or his wife that was the shooter. It was only after I read the transcripts and watched the 20 hours of video interrogation by police that I realized Chris might be innocent. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. I felt like I needed some balance or to just clean my palate. I am in the middle of the 9 part podcast about the Vaughn family murders. Mr. Vaughn is quirky. Raw and intimate, HBO's new four-part docuseries Murder on Middle Beach follows new filmmaker Madison Hamburg as he attempts to solve the murder of his mother Barbara, who was attacked in her own front yard in Connecticut in 2010. Madison digs deep into his mother's past, examining every member of his family as the possible culprit. Nothing could be done. Vaughn at first insists his wife, Kimberly, could not have been responsible, as he had initially claimed. the forensics and all circumstantial evidence, including Chris own words and online conversations point to one scenario, hes a family annihilator . After listening to family members semi deify him, I wanted to read the facts against the man. One bullet pierced his left wrist, while another went through his left leg. The parents of family annihilators have taken this tactic more times than I can count, but theyre rarely given a supportive, one-sided platform to air their grievances against their dead daughter-in-law (who is also the mother of their presumably beloved grandchildren). Whats become of Christopher Vaughn? Christopher Vaughn (second from left) sits with his family in his Oswego home before they were murdered in 2007. He had two survivable gunshot wounds. "You could lock him up for 500 lifetimes and it would not compensate the victims in this case or the family members.". Despite widespread speculation in news reports and the surrounding community, investigators insist it wasn't a drug hit. Other side effects: acting aggressive, being angry or violent and acting on dangerous impulses.. Ok. 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 first entrance hole was the front right pocket; the second an exit hole near the back bottom left side of the jacket. Out of all the True Crime ive seen and read about, somehow this one has slipped me. That would be significant, he said. . 'I'm really confused,' Vaughn says early in the interview with detectives. new content, we kindly appreciate any donation you can give to help NL VFW Friday Fish Fry. 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. 'Mandalorian' star Pedro Pascal, creators on new Grogu revelations and 'Last of Us' comparisons, Saved by the bell: Contestant ordered to keep mask on, in historic 'Masked Singer' first, Chris Pine admits 'it does look' like Harry Styles spit on him but this is what actually happened, Rebel Wilson 'collapsed' after Ramona Agruma proposal: 'I was so overwhelmed', Amy Grant recalls being 'so scared' to return to touring following serious bike accident. There was no bruising around the margins of the skin. Only a driver trying to surprise passengers would have to pull over, how could she fire multiple shots into three kids without him trying to stop her? For some inexplicable reason, this report, received before the probable cause hearing, was marked draft. His insurance agent told me she had suggested they take out a life insurance policy as part of sound financial planning. 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 . need your help for this. Not buying it. In addition to Jandura, two other firefighters, two Channahon police officers and Kimberly's mother, Susan Phillips, testified. The evidence was overwhelming and conclusive. Funding his defense reverted back to Will County. I got back in to check the kids. Neighbors and the press began to speculate as to what happened, with many pointing the finger at Christopher Vaughn. Vaughn's restraints made a clanking sound as he appeared to wipe his eye during the testimony, his only outward sign of emotion during the hearing. It was like my mind shut off . Jurors found Vaughn guilty of the June 14, 2007, murders of his wife Kimberly, 34, and their children: 12-year-old Abigayle, 11-year-old Cassandra, and 8-year-old Blake. So why was Christopher Vaughn arrested? At another point, Vaughn pushes away a bag of food from McDonalds that detectives have brought him. Elizabeth, another sister, and Jennifer, Kimberly's twin, were both there. Christopher sustained minor injuries to his wrist and leg while the other four sustained fatal gunshot . The case took another turn on Sept. 7, 2021, when PEOPLE reported that members of Alex's law firm had confronted him about missing money on Sept. 3 . Kim was slumped so I tried to buckle her. He then. On Tuesdays episode of Dr. Phil, "Murder in the Suburbs: Inside the SUV," see a reenactment of the crime scene based on Vaughns claims in a letter he wrote that he says show he didnt murder his family. They said he spent nearly $5,000 at a strip club in the days before the murders. No one owes them anything. My hand shook badly. I got to the road to get help.. In 2007, Chris Vaughn was arrested during a funeral for his wife and three children. 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. In the days following the murders, investigators searched the Oswego home of the Vaughn family, confiscating computers and other evidence. 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. Most who knew the family described Chris as quiet and mild mannered, an introvert. The 51/2 week trial included testimony from two former strippers whom Vaughn plied with cash and an FBI expert who translated 140 pages of runic writings that Vaughn, who had an interest in druidism, had scribbled in a notebook while in jail awaiting trial. He allegedly got into the family SUV, where his wife and children were waiting, after getting harmed. Much of the trial focused on blood evidence that prosecutors said proved Vaughn murdered his family. Richard Kling, another veteran Chicago defense attorney, confirmed he is part of the effort. "He's going to get the opposite of what he wants," Weiss said. All of the stains tested, including the latch, proved Chris was the source of the blood, meaning that his wifes seatbelt had been latched at the time that her husband was shot. "It crushes my heart," she said of being separated from her sister. 1. It was clear that there were key events that he was unable to remember. Courtesy Melville Vaughan When the FBI took up the case, in 1923, agents badly bungled the probe. Brad Pitt and Daughter Shiloh Share the Same Passions: They Have an Unbreakable Bond, What Caused Jackie Reeds Death? SHARE Judge overturns Utah death row inmate Von Lester Taylor's double murder conviction. "She's happy on the outside, but you'll see, ladies and gentleman, she was troubled on the inside," Lenard said. The blood evidence on the back of his jacket suggested he was seated in the drivers seat at the time his wife suffered the fatal contact wound under her chin. Later, Ledbetter spoke with Sgt. Key experts were never called to testify. 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 Check local listings to see where you can watch. The new medication guide advised patients to inform their doctor right away if they experienced anxiety while taking the medication. On Monday, Vaughn was wearing a tan jacket and white collared shirt. The Murdaugh family. The jury had been considering the case for barely about an hour when they found him guilty. Weiss said he was haunted for a time by what he saw the day of the murders, struggling to sleep or concentrate. Abigayle had been shot near the right eye and in her right lower chest. He spent over $4,000 on one stripper during two visits a week apart. I fell back out the door preparing to make another attempt. Clutter has previously written that a transfer blood stain on Kimberlys right thumb all comes together to prove it was the wife who unbuckled her own seatbelt, after her husband had been shot., That was my working theory at the time, Clutter said Thursday. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. The jury returned the verdicts Monday, a few hours after hearing from prosecutors and lawyers for the former cattle truck driver. Vaughn's initial statement revealed an outlandish story he would cling to during the course of his defense. "He's monotone. Murder of the wife and children in the suburbs, Kimberly. 'Today I lost everything,' Vaughn says on the video, later referring to how tired he is. By family. He turns 47 on Sept. 26. He also said there is no question [Vaughn] was wearing that jacket when he was shot contradicting the theory that Vaughn had wrapped the gun in the jacket. The manual said a person would remember everything up until the trauma producing event, but would have no memory of the events that produced the trauma. I am new to Reddit. This report was sent to the lead detective several days before he took the grand jury witness stand. 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. He remembered pulling off, parking in front of a cell phone tower along a frontage road and getting out of the car to check the back tires. And if he married her, that was his choice. !Go listen to Episode 17 of Court Junkie for a more fact/evidence based account. Why is her dad responsible for the teen pregnancy?! I can breathe again. 'I just don't know I think I panicked or something.'. Vaughn's parents are asking for a new trial. However, a state police ballistic expert from ISP crime lab who was present when he made this remark disputed this chauvinistic assumption saying that her own hand was able to test fire the weapon with no difficulty. as if that means anything. Kims sister paints a picture of a person who wanted to be a good mom, good wife, a good person. Shortly after Chris Vaughn was discovered limping down a highway with two gunshot wounds in the early morning hours of June 14, 2007, his wife and kids were found in their SUV shot to death. During his second inspection of the vehicle, Haag attached a laser to the end of the dowel rod and was able, with the tip of his finger, to demonstrate that the shot that struck Cassandra had been fired from the passenger seat, Kimberly was seated. 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. Plus, hear from the former Assistant State's Attorney who believes Chris is right where he belongs. Chris is wounded but survives. . plans and enthusiasm I dont know the family, but Kimberly baby-sat my husband and his brother when they were little. 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. 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? 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. On the way, Kimberly started to feel sick, so he got off I-55 around Channahon and took the quiet frontage road. whose wife and three children were found fatally shot in the On June 14, 2007, the Vaughn family from Oswego loaded up the family vehicle and headed for Springfield, IL to spend the day at Knight's Action Park. He is accused of shooting them in the early hours in the family's SUV, Claims wife shot them and then killed herself, Family of woman 'shot dead by husband' tell court she was happy as defense claims she killed herself and three children 'in rage over extra-marital affairs and fear of AIDs', Father who 'shot dead wife and children in SUV' spent $5,000 on strippers and booze days before killings, Pictured: The sixteen-year-old teenager who murdered policemans daughter by stabbing her through the skull with a hair comb, King Charles hosts von der Leyen at Windsor Castle, Huge urgent police search for missing baby of Constance Marten, Putin spy plane before being 'destroyed by pro-Ukraine Belarus group', Amplified jet stream could lead to 'disruptive snow in places', Isabel Oakeshott receives 'menacing' message from Matt Hancock, Biden claims ICU nurse would whisper in his ear and BREATH on him, Gabor Mat: No Jewish state without oppressing local population, Woman appears to fake injury while arguing with tradie next door, Dashcam captures moment two cars collide on a roundabout, Putin orders intelligence service to find 'scum' who oppose him, Police search allotment sheds for Constance Marten's missing baby, Child reads from sexually explicit book at Maine school board meeting. List used a revolver and a semi-automatic handgun to end the lives of his wife, Helen (46); his mother, Alma (84); and his children, Patricia (16), Frederick (13), and John Frederick (15). This is the first time I've heard about the Vaughn family. She was one of Susans three daughters with Del, an attorney. It's believed the killings began around 12:45 p.m., but they weren't discovered for nearly 12 hours. Jeremy Webster is accused of fatally shooting 13-year-old Vaughn Bigelow on June 14, 2018. Then, see some truly haunting murder scenes from the streets of old New York. He was in pants, tshirt AND long sleeve flannel shirt. He was convicted and they should keep Kims name out of their mouths. J.B. Pritzker. Murder in Illinois has taken heavy criticism for its generally negative portrayal of Kimberly and her family. I just started listening to the podcast, "Murder in Illinois Who Killed the Vaughn Family?". The prosecution argued to the jury that nowhere in these emails was any hint of suicidal ideation. It also said he felt ashamed because he failed to protect his children and would have shot Kimberly if she hadnt done it herself. When Vaughn's family was killed, he lost his three young children and his wife, making him the sole survivor. And enthusiasm I dont know the family, confiscating computers and other evidence and... I felt like I needed some balance or to just clean my palate inform! Funeral for his wife and children were never mentioned in the middle of the.! Scenes from the streets of old new York saw the day of the 9 part podcast the... Told me she had suggested they take out a life insurance policy as part sound! The murders, investigators insist it wasn & # x27 ; s past, examining every member of his in! The probe one scenario, hes a family annihilator cattle truck driver referring... 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