Wife’s clothes draw emotion from Vaughn
Looking toward the redand-white plaid, sleeveless shirt his wife wore when she died, Christopher Vaughn finally seemed to struggle with emotion Friday.
As his murder trial began in earnest this week, Vaughn’s lawyer told the jury his client is “monotone.” He’s an introvert with one speed.
But when Illinois State Police Sgt. Robert Deel held up the shirt Kimberly Vaughn wore when she died of a gunshot wound under her chin, Vaughn seemed to swallow hard. He fidgeted in his seat as Deel pulled out Kimberly’s light-colored shorts.
And for a fleeting moment, Vaughn appeared to fight a subtle sob.
He swiftly returned to his calm, quiet composure, though, and he turned his attention to the notes on his desk. He and the jury spent much of Friday afternoon looking at a pile of physical evidence gathered from his family’s SUV — including the gun police found between Kimberly’s feet.
Vaughn is on trial for the murder of his 34-year-old wife and their three children: 12-year-old Abigayle, 11-yearold Cassandra and 8-yearold Blake. Police found their bodies June 14, 2007, in the family’s red Ford Expedition after Vaughn flagged down a passing motorist.
Nursing minor gunshot wounds in his wrist and thigh, Vaughn said his wife shot him. He has argued that Kimberly fired a gun at him and the children before turning the
Web gun on herself.
The family was supposed to be on its way to a water park in Springfield when Vaughn pulled the SUV over on a desolate frontage road near Channahon. He told police Kimberly felt sick, and that’s why he stopped.
Prosecutors aim to prove Vaughn — who visited a shooting range the night before — masterminded the plan to kill his family and live in isolation in Canada.
Jurors got a glimpse into Vaughn’s former life Friday. The long-sleeve shirt, fleece jacket and bloody blue jeans he wore that morning were presented as evidence, along with pictures of the SUV’s blood-spattered interior.
In the back seat, the children were covered with blankets. A Mickey Mouse tissue box was on the floor. In a seat pocket in front of Blake was a copy of A book was found on Abigayle’s lap, and two paperback books sat in the front seat next to their mother.
Police also found two cellphones in the SUV.
The evidence was introduced during Deel’s testimony. Graphic photos of Kimberly, a bullet wound underneath her chin, were again shown to jurors as Deel explained how he processed the scene.
Christopher Vaughn flipped through papers and looked straight ahead as the photos flashed across the screen. Later, autopsy pictures showed Kimberly’s left hand, a gold wedding band around her ring finger, dripping with blood.
The blood-stained passenger seat belt prosecutors pointed to as a key piece of evidence in their opening statements also appeared in the courtroom. Deel said Kimberly wasn’t wearing it when her body was found.