I've got nothing to go back to.'. The familys SUV was shot up on its route to a water park in Springfield, Illinois, killing all four occupants. ", After the sentencing, Kimberly's family hugged and shook hands with investigators. 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. Transfer stains occur when an object, like a thumb, comes into contact with a bloody object. Our expert called me and said he was convinced by watching the 20 hours of video that Chris may be innocent. When Vaughn's family was killed, he lost his three young children and his wife, making him the sole survivor. I was wondering if it is making anyone who followed the trial and was firmly in the "Chris Vaughn is guilty as sin" camp think twice about their conclusion? . He would be tried and convicted of their murders. I just started listening to the podcast, "Murder in Illinois Who Killed the Vaughn Family?". My blood pressure explodes every week when another whiny, victim bashing, full of spin, low on facts episode is released. . Clutter, founder of Investigating Innocence, said a crime-scene reconstruction has shown Vaughn couldnt have unbuckled his wifes seat belt. Kimberly's father, Del Phillips, said the family never saw any sign that Christopher Vaughn was dangerous. If these were self-inflicted injuries, why shoot yourself twice? the ISP CSI asked. Gov. Kims sister paints a picture of a person who wanted to be a good mom, good wife, a good person. 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. Abigayle "Abbi" Vaughn, 12, an accomplished student and athlete who had just begun wearing eye makeup, was slain while clutching a Harry Potter book and a stuffed animal. 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. She had unbuckled her own seatbelt to reach back to shoot her three children. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Vaughn's parents are asking for a new trial. And after Vaughn was taken to the hospital with minor gunshot wounds to his wrist and leg, Mills said, Vaughn expressed more concern for his special jacket and the possibility that emergency workers "were ruining his cowboy boots" than for his dead wife and children. Like does that make her a bad person? I am making a list s a form of therapy. .. Traces of his flesh and blood, and denim and polyester fibers consistent with the jacket and jeans were found on the bullet. Chris Vaughn and his family are driving to a water park when their lives are tragically ended in a roadside shooting. 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. 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. On the way, Kimberly started to feel sick, so he got off I-55 around Channahon and took the quiet frontage road. Kimberly Phillips was born on December 12, 1972, to Del and Susan Phillips of Saint Charles, Missouri. If he isnt guilty why wasnt he looking for who did it? The tragic incident took place on what should have been an exciting day at a local waterpark for the . Be forewarned that some of the. Christopher Vaughn (second from left) sits with his family in his Oswego home before they were murdered in 2007. Despite widespread speculation in news reports and the surrounding community, investigators insist it wasn't a drug hit. While Vaughn might come off as cold-hearted or callous, Lenard asked jurors not use the accused quadruple-murderer's demeanoror eccentricitiesagainst him. Channahon Firefighter-Paramedic Ryan Jandura said he found a Harry Potter book and a stuffed animal by 12-year-old Abigayle's body. His case seems to be that the ballistics did not 100% line up with the state's theory. Authorities said no one motive had been established but. Vaughns family did not respond to a message seeking comment. When contacted by the Sun-Times on Thursday, he noted that Vaughn has had 10 years to come up with this statement, which Regis called contrary to the evidence., Glasgow also said the new theory contradicts the scene, insisting the angles are all wrong and it means Vaughns car door, where a bullet was found, would have been open. 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 . A potential family annihilator unhappy in his marriage that seems 100% guilty just based on the fact he is the biggest threat to the attacker, but is not killed. Vaughn was convicted of killing (from left) Blake, 8; Cassandra, 11, Kimberly, 34, and Abigayle, 12. as if that means anything. Christopher Vaughn was convicted of killing his wife and three young children after their bodies were found in the family's SUV just off I-55 in Channahon. Charles, Mo. "Mr. Vaughn does not show his feelings or emotions to anyone under any circumstances," said attorney George Lenard. At first blush, it looked like Chris was guilty. Just because you feel inferior academically doesnt mean someone is else is forcing that superiority on you. It was like my mind shut off . "You could lock him up for 500 lifetimes and it would not compensate the victims in this case or the family members.". But not all entrance wounds produce back spatter. Kimberlys doctor began to prescribe a cocktail of medications to relieve her migraine headaches, including the prescription medications Nortriptyline and Topamax. One symptom of experiencing a traumatic event is the freeze-response. His statement to police I froze is exactly what may have happened. Chris parents, Gail and Pierre, and private investigator Bill Clutter, all claim Chris is innocent and Clutter claims he has evidence to prove it. After listening to family members semi deify him, I wanted to read the facts against the man. 2007 the Vaughn family- Christopher, his wife Kimberly and their three children . Compared with what I knew about Kimberly, yes, that would be a big change. A member of Kimberlys family declined to speak to the Sun-Times. 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. The new medication guide advised patients to inform their doctor right away if they experienced anxiety while taking the medication. Blake had been shot in the forehead and near his left underarm indicating he had raised his arm defensively. To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com. Approved by the FDA to treat epilepsy and seizures, Topamax has an off label use for the treatment of migraine headaches. The bleeding man told the truck driver that he believed his wife had shot him. Vaughn shot them all on a secluded section of the Interstate 55 frontage road just outside Channahon, Mills said. 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. "It crushes my heart," she said of being separated from her sister. The next night, Archie and his buddies went out in search of victim number one. Prosecutors said Vaughn had hoped to disappear into the Canadian wilderness, pointing to emails hed exchanged with a Canadian man hed met online. ", Steve Schmadeke and Chicago Tribune reporter. He didnt like his life and this was his choice on how to remedy that. 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. We have many She married Christopher Vaughn in 1994. I dont know the family, but Kimberly baby-sat my husband and his brother when they were little. (Zbigniew Bzdak, Chicago Tribune). It was Christopher Vaughn, 32-year-old cyber crime and computer security investigator. Another incriminating fact was Chris visit to a strip club near OHare Airport two nights before his family was killed. His insurance agent told me she had suggested they take out a life insurance policy as part of sound financial planning. He had two survivable gunshot wounds. Richard Kling, another veteran Chicago defense attorney, confirmed he is part of the effort. Then the doctor was asked what the significance would be taking both medications Nortriptyline and Topamax together. He allegedly got into the family SUV, where his wife and children were waiting, after getting harmed. "48. He is at Menard Correctional Center, one of the most violent prisons in Illinois. His wife, Kimberly, 34, was in the front passenger seat, slumped over the center console with a single contact gunshot wound under her chin. Very little back spatter would occur with the bullet entering the soft underside of the chin. 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. He spent over $4,000 on one stripper during two visits a week apart. Murder of the wife and children in the suburbs, Kimberly. John List. She was stabbed. Yeah, in the middle of episode 3 and boy, so far the narrative is the wife and mother in law were bitches and thats it. A group that supports unjust convictions, Investigating Innocence, is looking into the matter. 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. Theyre real people.' Ugh, just had to turn it off mid way through episode 2. Her father is expected to take the witness stand Tuesday. Why not ask how they are, why are you not upset that you cant remember? This could be due to my lack of search skills. February 15, 2007 (Thursday) . Forensic evidence emerges throughout the podcast series. FORENSIC EVIDENCE OF MURDER-SUICIDE People v. Christopher Vaughn, Will County, IL No. I knew about Kimberly, yes, that would be taking both medications Nortriptyline and Topamax together functionality our. 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