Woman, 3 Children Found Dead in SUV

[SewingDeb]

Woman, 3 Children Found Dead In SUV

WILL COUNTY, Ill. -- Illinois state police are investigating the shooting deaths of at least four people who were found inside a vehicle off Interstate 55 in Will County.

and

Three children and a woman were found in the vehicle, and an adult male was found with gunshot wounds. He has been taken to an area hospital.

http://www.thekansascitychannel.com/news/13501965/detail.html

[Dena]

How sad, we'll have to see if more info comes out.

My gut tells me the man with "gunshot wounds" did it.

[Angels_Not_Forgotten]

Sadly I agree :(

[jannuncutt]

Sadly I agree :(
Unfortunately, me too.........

[Dena]

More info at Chicago Tribune -

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-070614channahon-homicides,1,6959788.story?coll=chi-news-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true


A man with a gunshot wound alerted a passerby of an "incident" in the SUV around 5:30 a.m., according to Illinois State Police. The passerby called 911, and when officers responded they found a 35-year-old woman, two girls aged 12 and 11 and a boy, 8, dead from gunshot wounds. Authorities said the victims were related but did not identifiy them.

[Rino]

Male version of Diane Downs? How sad

[Dena]

"The man was taken to Provena St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet with non-life threatening injuries, where he was treated and released into police custody, hospital spokeswoman Allie Rios said. "

SNIP ~
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-070614channahon-homicides,1,6959788.story?coll=chi-news-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true

So 4 people killed and he had non-life threatening injuries... mmm hmmm.

[southcitymom]

"The man was taken to Provena St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet with non-life threatening injuries, where he was treated and released into police custody, hospital spokeswoman Allie Rios said. "

SNIP ~
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-070614channahon-homicides,1,6959788.story?coll=chi-news-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true

So 4 people killed and he had non-life threatening injuries... mmm hmmm.

Yes, aren't the ones that get away just too lucky for words!?;)

[cheko1]

"The man was taken to Provena St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet with non-life threatening injuries, where he was treated and released into police custody, hospital spokeswoman Allie Rios said. "

SNIP ~
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-070614channahon-homicides,1,6959788.story?coll=chi-news-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true

So 4 people killed and he had non-life threatening injuries... mmm hmmm.

Yes, aren't the ones that get away just too lucky for words!?;)

He is just so lucky!!!! Amazing how he just was able to walk away.

[teonspaleprincess]

How sad for the family of the victims. I hope that this guy gets life in prison at least.

[Camper]

The first article did say that the gun was found at the vehicle.

No random gunman is going to shoot and leave their gun at the scene. Sad, sad, sad to hear. Should have some answers on tonights news.

.

[fran]

On NG, there were two scenarios being looked at, as given to NG by a local reporter.

1. The children were shot multiple times while the wife received one gunshot and the husband once in the leg (or theigh). So the WIFE could have killed the kids, shot the husband and killed herself. :doh:

2. The children were murdered, the wife murdered, and the husband shot himself.

Of course it's noted the husband did stick around and flagged down another motorist to call police.

NG asked if there was gun shot residue on the wife's hands and the reporter didn't know. The husband is still being questioned by LE.

Please don't tell me this guy is going to say the wife did it and he just happened to get away with a leg wound!:liar:

I don't believe it. Let's see what the evidence produces.

JMHO
fran

[Annie]

This makes no sense. Why would she shoot her children multiple times to kill them, herself once, and only shoot her husband once in the thigh? I don't believe this story. Also, it was just said on Nancy Grace that a woman in the area heard shots around 10:00 last night but he only flagged down the motorist around 5:30 a.m. He was driving. He is the one who pulled the car off onto an access road to a tower for cell phones. I may have to eat my words, but I think he did it.

[PrayersForMaura]

"Authorities did not release the victims' identities, but Cook said it appeared to be an incident of domestic violence"

updated artcle at first link

[michelle]

Male version of Diane Downs? How sad
Exactly what I thought, so freaking senseless. NG said tonight she (mom) just got a Criminal Justice degree.

[Annie]

This article tells about the woman hearing shots at 10:00. Nancy Grace had all the pictures of the victims on, but these news articles still say names are being withheld. Hopefully they will be updated soon.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/06/14/bodies.found.ap/index.html

[michelle]

This article tells about the woman hearing shots at 10:00. Nancy Grace had all the pictures of the victims on, but these news articles still say names are being withheld. Hopefully they will be updated soon.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/06/14/bodies.found.ap/index.htmlNancy named all them tonight. I dont remember their last name, I know the boy was blake, and I think someone was terry.

[Jaded]

http://searchchicago.suntimes.com/homes/news/401736,srch-home-open27.article

ARticle that they mentioned on the NG show.

[southcitymom]

http://searchchicago.suntimes.com/homes/news/401736,srch-home-open27.article

ARticle that they mentioned on the NG show.

Good Lord - is that the family? What in the world was going on behind that bright happy facade?

[Jaded]

Good Lord - is that the family? What in the world was going on behind that bright happy facade?
Good question. If he's not the shooter, I will honestly be surprised. I just find it bizarre that a mad gunman would be out in the sticks and kill everyone BUT him, and there was a gun in his vehicle.

ETA: Yes, that is the family.

[crash676]

Holy crap this is literally in my backyard.. I am not home but will call the folks and see if they know anything.. I live about 1.5 miles away from the frontage road.. Did anyone here where these people are from or a name? Channahon is a smaller community and I pray I do not know these people someone please update I can't find any names..

[Jaded]

Holy crap this is literally in my backyard.. I am not home but will call the folks and see if they know anything.. I live about 1.5 miles away from the frontage road.. Did anyone here where these people are from or a name? Channahon is a smaller community and I pray I do not know these people someone please update I can't find any names..

Article in the Sun Times said they had moved from Washington state to Spring Gate at Southbury. The article link has a photo.

The Vaughn family — Kimberly and Chris and their three children — moved into their new house at Spring Gate in Southbury about a year ago. http://searchchicago.suntimes.com/homes/news/401736,srch-home-open27.article

[Camper]

Holy crap this is literally in my backyard.. I am not home but will call the folks and see if they know anything.. I live about 1.5 miles away from the frontage road.. Did anyone here where these people are from or a name? Channahon is a smaller community and I pray I do not know these people someone please update I can't find any names..




--->>>link is at the bottom of page 1.

"The Vaughn family — Kimberly and Chris and their three children — moved into their
new house at Spring Gate in Southbury about a year ago.
From Washington state to Oswego

OPEN HOUSE | Family didn't have air conditioning in Pacific Northwest, but they'll need it here
May 27, 2007
BY BILL CUNNIFF Sun-Times Real Estate Reporter

The Vaughn family -- Chris and Kimberly, their three children and two dogs -- transferred from Washington state in the Pacific Northwest to the Chicago area.

"Both Chris and I are originally from the Midwest. But we decided to rent an apartment in Aurora, so we could take our time in getting acquainted with the suburban
Chicago area and pursuing our home search," Kimberly said.

---------Their pictures are in the link, showing them in their NEW home.


I am wondering IF IF the husband could have had some sort of a crime connection, where his family was murdered to be a lesson to him, then left him to suffer the consequence. Supposition on my part, person on NG said the angle of the shot in the husbands leg will tell a BIG story.

The link at bottom of page 1 is from article in the Sun Times paper real estate section, of a recent paper.

.

[southcitymom]

What happens to a person that they could erase all of that in the blink of an eye?

I am dumbfounded and so saddened. Prayers for this family.

[Jaded]

<snip>


I am wondering IF IF the husband could have had some sort of a crime connection, where his family was murdered to be a lesson to him, then left him to suffer the consequence. Supposition on my part, person on NG said the angle of the shot in the husbands leg will tell a BIG story.

<snip>



Oh, absolutely the trajectory will tell a story. As well for the mother who was in the front seat of the vehicle. From the aerial shot you could see her body there. Just awful...and I agree with southcitymom -- what does happen that would cause someone to do something like this? I can't think of ANYTHING that innocent children could do that might cause a parent to take their lives.

[crash676]

After reading I do not know this family and am wondering what the heck they were doing there to begin with. Oswego is about a 35-40 minute driver from where they were found. Were they coming home from a trip somewhere? It is not even on the way somewhere.. To get to that area from where they live you would have to go through several backroads or through two to three different interstates.. I hate to say it but it sound like another "injured parent" with superficial wounds. I pray that this time the dad is actually innocent and some stranger "really did do it" But probably not..

[pedinurse]

Oh, absolutely the trajectory will tell a story. As well for the mother who was in the front seat of the vehicle. From the aerial shot you could see her body there. Just awful...and I agree with southcitymom -- what does happen that would cause someone to do something like this? I can't think of ANYTHING that innocent children could do that might cause a parent to take their lives.


I know that was awful! You could see her corpse in there! I'm surprised they showed it on TV.

[philamena]

Hopefully this will be a rather easy case to solve. When a mother and her children are shot and killed but the father/husband has no life threatening wounds, you can be pretty sure the husband killed his family.
Is this another mass murder where the husband flips when the wife wants a divorce? Another case of a father not wanting to pay child support?

[Bobbisangel]

What a horrible thing. Why would someone shoot their kids and shoot them several times? I guess whoever wanted to make sure that they were good and dead. The story doesn't make any sense to me either. The husband was shot once in the leg. He better have a darn good story I would think.

There is hardly a day that goes by that we don't hear of a husband or ex-husband or boyfriend or ex-boyfriend that wipes out a whole family. It is just getting worse and worse. Right now that seems to be the thing that happens the most. Things seem to go in streaks. Children being raped and murdered and then it changes to something else like pregnant women murdered and on and on. I guess the killers never think of the consequesces but boy do they whine and cry when they get the death penalty...they don't want to die...cowards. I wish there was a way to stop all of this violence. Maybe if the laws got stricter and the criminal didn't have all the rights some of these people would think before they murder.

[LionRun]

This is tragic, and my heart aches for this terrible loss of life. I imagine that if the man was treated for non-life threatening injuries and was released into police custody, LE may have themselves a suspect. Geesh, here we go again. Same crime, same type of criminal, and the tragic loss of innocent lives.

Lion

[misterallgood]

There's something very odd here.

I'm with those who are very curious about Mr. Vaughn.

I poked and poked around trying to find out more about his firm, and for a computer security firm, StoneBridge Investigations and Security had what seemed to be very low profiles. That makes no sense to me when your business is investigating things cyber-related. In WA, Vaughn did have other employees -- a guy named Mike Hendricks listed his job in a campaign contribution form as StoneBridge Security CEO, and his address was in Bellevue, WA. But otherwise, not much to learn about that company, at all, save that it looked legit 'on paper.'

And no matter what Mr. Vaughn says, the timing and just about everything else having to do with the idea that his wife did this make no sense whatsoever. Not to mention people living in the area near where the vehicle was found reported hearing shots 3 hours before a 911 call was made (http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/429357,2_1_AU14_SLAYINGS_S1.article).

Kimberly was raising impressive kids, according to the news stories I read. She had potted plants in front of the house. That photo of the family from the May 27, 2007 article in a paper about the home they bought in Oswego showed them in a bright, cluttered kitchen. I don't know about anyone else here, but I've known suicidal people. They didn't often tend their plants or keep cheery yellow kitchens. There are always exceptions.

I think the police are being very careful and cagey here. The outcome may be exactly what we all expect, though.

Steve/Mr. A

[Camper]

There's something very odd here.

I'm with those who are very curious about Mr. Vaughn.

I poked and poked around trying to find out more about his firm, and for a computer security firm, StoneBridge Investigations and Security had what seemed to be very low profiles. That makes no sense to me when your business is investigating things cyber-related. In WA, Vaughn did have other employees -- a guy named Mike Hendricks listed his job in a campaign contribution form as StoneBridge Security CEO, and his address was in Bellevue, WA. But otherwise, not much to learn about that company, at all, save that it looked legit 'on paper.'

And no matter what Mr. Vaughn says, the timing and just about everything else having to do with the idea that his wife did this make no sense whatsoever. Not to mention people living in the area near where the vehicle was found reported hearing shots 3 hours before a 911 call was made (http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/429357,2_1_AU14_SLAYINGS_S1.article).

Kimberly was raising impressive kids, according to the news stories I read. She had potted plants in front of the house. That photo of the family from the May 27, 2007 article in a paper about the home they bought in Oswego showed them in a bright, cluttered kitchen. I don't know about anyone else here, but I've known suicidal people. They didn't often tend their plants or keep cheery yellow kitchens. There are always exceptions.

I think the police are being very careful and cagey here. The outcome may be exactly what we all expect, though.

Steve/Mr. A





---->>>Thank you for that great informative link!!! From the link:
"Neighbors said Kimberly, a homemaker, worked part-time as an attendant at the subdivision’s clubhouse. Christopher Vaughn operates StoneBridge
Investigations, which specializes in corporate counter espionage, risk assessments, missing persons investigations, employee background checks, employee
surveillance, computer forensics and cybercrime prevention, according to the company’s Web site.

The company’s Web site states Vaughn has offices in Bellevue, Wash., and Chicago. Vaughn is listed as the firm’s principal investigator. Neighbors said he
traveled often, including a recent trip to Mexico."

No mention in the link about Kimberly having a degree in Criminal Justice, that was talked about yesterday.

BUT BUT, husbands story about their destination etc, does not fit the thoughts that some of us are having. That being his 'job' category, and angry client base etc.

.

[Jaded]

There's something very odd here.

I'm with those who are very curious about Mr. Vaughn.

I poked and poked around trying to find out more about his firm, and for a computer security firm, StoneBridge Investigations and Security had what seemed to be very low profiles. That makes no sense to me when your business is investigating things cyber-related. In WA, Vaughn did have other employees -- a guy named Mike Hendricks listed his job in a campaign contribution form as StoneBridge Security CEO, and his address was in Bellevue, WA. But otherwise, not much to learn about that company, at all, save that it looked legit 'on paper.'

And no matter what Mr. Vaughn says, the timing and just about everything else having to do with the idea that his wife did this make no sense whatsoever. Not to mention people living in the area near where the vehicle was found reported hearing shots 3 hours before a 911 call was made (http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/429357,2_1_AU14_SLAYINGS_S1.article).

Kimberly was raising impressive kids, according to the news stories I read. She had potted plants in front of the house. That photo of the family from the May 27, 2007 article in a paper about the home they bought in Oswego showed them in a bright, cluttered kitchen. I don't know about anyone else here, but I've known suicidal people. They didn't often tend their plants or keep cheery yellow kitchens. There are always exceptions.

I think the police are being very careful and cagey here. The outcome may be exactly what we all expect, though.

Steve/Mr. A

Why didn't he call 911 immediately after being shot? I don't know of too many people that would sit in a vehicle with 4 dead family members and then decide to telephone for help three hours later. I hate to jump to conclusions, but something stinks here, and my eyebrows are raised toward's hubby's direction.

[curves]

So his wife shoots him in the leg and he doesn't try to overpower her, just runs away leaving his children at the mercy of their crazed mother? And she doesn't shoot him in the back as he flees, instead she decides he should live and kills her children and then herself. Riiiiight.

Honestly some of these men are SO dumb! Do they not watch CSI or any crime programme and know the police will be able to tell exactly what happened in about 5 minutes?

That poor woman and her children, it's utterly horrific. Bad enough to kill your spouse but your children? How do you do that?

[Dena]

I was shocked this morning when I heard that he was released and they are blaming the wife. The fact that he didn't stop her was what really got me thinking. There is no way I could shoot my husband and my kids without him getting that gun from me, especially in a small car.
Now I would be curious as to her autopsy, any fight marks? Bruises on her arms and such, did he even try to stop her?

[Camper]

Jaded, did you read the link in misterallgood's post #33, it is in blue letters.

"hearing shots 3 hours before a 911 call was made" click on those words in his post to reach the link.

I have been scratching my head, and trying to give the husband a chance, because no one likes to believe that he might be guilty ASAP. BUT BUT IF IF he pre planned this, he took a lot of trouble to get the family OUT OF THE HOUSE to do this. Planning the trip, the luggage, the visit to grandmas planned. BUT BUT he missed the basics of Crime 101, and the forensics of it all, angle of the SHOT IN HIS LEG, did the wife have gunshot powder residue on her.
HE IS BEING totally cooperative with LE, link says.

WHAT WE NEED IS THE MOTIVE. A girlfriend in the wings perhaps ?? OR ?? It could not be THAT simple could it?


.

[Camper]

Dena

1. My questions, why was the wife driving the car IF IF she was planning on killing the children WHILE in the SUV?

2. The logistics of who was where when what shots were fired?

3. WAS the wife aware of some illegal things husband had been doing and threatened to blow the whistle, OR OR OR kill the family to save the embarrassment of IT when the truth came out?

[southcitymom]

.......Maybe if the laws got stricter and the criminal didn't have all the rights some of these people would think before they murder.

I just don't think stricter laws would work to accomplish this. Most people murder in passion and are not thinking rationally of consequences at the time OR they murder calculatedly and think they will not be caught because they are too smart OR they murder unintentionally (beating a child too hard) and don't think anyone is going to die.

In any event, none of these types of murders is likely to examine what their actions might lead to. Just my opinion.

[southcitymom]

Father: Mom shot children, then killed herself


June 14, 2007
BY CHRISTINE S. MOYER Staff Writer
CHANNAHON — An Oswego mother and her three children were found shot and killed in the family’s sport-utility vehicle early Thursday morning along a highway here, and her husband is being questioned by police in the apparent domestic incident.


Christopher Vaughn, 32, told police that his wife, Kimberly Vaughn, 34, shot their three children to death and then killed herself. He suffered a gunshot wound to the thigh and was treated and released at Provena St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet.

Will County Coroner Patrick O’Neil said Kimberly Vaughn was shot once in the head in the passenger’s seat of the SUV. Her children, Abigayle, 12; Cassandra, 11; and Blake, 8, were shot multiple times in the back seat.

More at link
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/429357,2_1_AU14_SLAYINGS_S1.article

Good article. I would think that if the mother shot them (and at this point, I don't have any reason to believe otherwise), then she would have residue on her hands confirming that she was the shooter.

I wonder what was going on for her that she felt the need to do this. I hope more information is released.

[Jaded]

Jaded, did you read the link in misterallgood's post #33, it is in blue letters.

"hearing shots 3 hours before a 911 call was made" click on those words in his post to reach the link.

I have been scratching my head, and trying to give the husband a chance, because no one likes to believe that he might be guilty ASAP. BUT BUT IF IF he pre planned this, he took a lot of trouble to get the family OUT OF THE HOUSE to do this. Planning the trip, the luggage, the visit to grandmas planned. BUT BUT he missed the basics of Crime 101, and the forensics of it all, angle of the SHOT IN HIS LEG, did the wife have gunshot powder residue on her.
HE IS BEING totally cooperative with LE, link says.

WHAT WE NEED IS THE MOTIVE. A girlfriend in the wings perhaps ?? OR ?? It could not be THAT simple could it?


.

Just read the link, and I don't know what to say. She shot him first and he fled? Where did he go? Couldn't he have overpowered her when she had the gun? What was going on in the hours before the 911 call was placed? This is just so crazy.

[Rino]

There's something very odd here.

I'm with those who are very curious about Mr. Vaughn.



Right. From the link: Vaughn said that when he got back into the SUV, his wife began firing a handgun. He was shot in the leg, and he fled, he reportedly told investigators. When he returned, his wife and children had all been shot.

He fled?!?!

His wife shoots him and he runs, then he would be shot in the back - no? His wife shoots him and he runs, leaving his kids in the car with a trigger happy woman, I have my doubts. His wife shoots him and he does nothing to stop her?..makes no sense to me at all. He has to be lying.

[southcitymom]

Just read the link, and I don't know what to say. She shot him first and he fled? Where did he go? Couldn't he have overpowered her when she had the gun? What was going on in the hours before the 911 call was placed? This is just so crazy.

According to him, they were on a family trip to a water park. Police say stuff in the car supports that story. They pulled over so that he could get out of the car and secure some stuff on the top that seemed to be coming loose.

He did this. When he returned to the car, she shot him. He was wounded and ran away into the woods. I guess he then heard the other shots and when he returned, everyone was dead. The kids had been shot in the back seat multiple times and his wife had a signle gunshot to the head. The gun was still there.

A passerby then found the husband at the scene wounded and called police.

I would think evidence at the scene will be able to support or contradict his story.

[southcitymom]

Right. From the link: Vaughn said that when he got back into the SUV, his wife began firing a handgun. He was shot in the leg, and he fled, he reportedly told investigators. When he returned, his wife and children had all been shot.

He fled?!?!

His wife shoots him and he runs, then he would be shot in the back - no? His wife shoots him and he runs, leaving his kids in the car with a trigger happy woman, I have my doubts. His wife shoots him and he does nothing to stop her?..makes no sense to me at all. He has to be lying.

If this had happened to me, I would have fled. Wounded, hurting, confused, panicked, I would have run.

It would not cross my mind that my spouse would then kill my kids. If I had any conscious thought at all after being suddenly shot, it would have been - "I need to keep myself alive so I can get somewhere and call police."

Maybe he is lying, but I don't think his story sounds outlandish at this point in the investigation. Forensics will tell more.

[Dena]

If this had happened to me, I would have fled. Wounded, hurting, confused, panicked, I would have run.

It would not cross my mind that my spouse would then kill my kids. If I had any conscious thought at all after being suddenly shot, it would have been - "I need to keep myself alive so I can get somewhere and call police."

Maybe he is lying, but I don't think his story sounds outlandish at this point in the investigation. Forensics will tell more.

Definitely. He doesn't know if she's just trying to kill him, not aware her plan is to take out the whole family.
My original thought was that she shot the kids first, not him, if that were the case, yes, he should have stopped her. I am going both ways on this one, we'll have to see how it unfolds.

[southcitymom]

Definitely. He doesn't know if she's just trying to kill him, not aware her plan is to take out the whole family.
My original thought was that she shot the kids first, not him, if that were the case, yes, he should have stopped her. I am going both ways on this one, we'll have to see how it unfolds.

Seems like she was trying to get rid of him - the biggest threat to carrying out her plans - first. When he ran away, she was able to do just that.

If it turns out the wife did this, I believe we will hear about mental illness coupled with some sort of precipitating event (affair, imminent divorce, abuse, state of mania) that caused her to, for lack of a better phrase, stop believing in the dream or her family. There may also be a religious component.

Where did she get the gun? Are they "gun" people or did she have to plan and buy one?

[hollyjokers]

So Mr. Vaughn had to pull over in a remote area (in the wee hours of the morning) to tie down luggage (for a day trip) on his roof rack, & his wife, who just happens to be packing heat, chooses that moment to go on a killing spree? The poor guy takes a bullet in the thigh & runs away, leaving his armed wife w/three defenseless kids. Talk about bad luck, he had to wait for a passing motorist to get help because he was parked too close to a cell tower to get service...Is this the alibi?

Why didn't he just say he was golfishing?

Is Springfield that far away from Oswego that they would need to leave pre-dawn to go to a waterpark? Most amusement parks don't open much before 10 or 11 that I know of.

Edited to add misterallgood answered my question about the distance - looks like a little over 3 hour drive.

[hollyjokers]

If they were going to Knight's Action park, the 'action' park opens at 9am, the waterpark opens at 10am, so I guess they could leave that early so they could have breakfast before entering the parks.

[MagicRose99]

If this had happened to me, I would have fled. Wounded, hurting, confused, panicked, I would have run.

It would not cross my mind that my spouse would then kill my kids. If I had any conscious thought at all after being suddenly shot, it would have been - "I need to keep myself alive so I can get somewhere and call police."

Maybe he is lying, but I don't think his story sounds outlandish at this point in the investigation. Forensics will tell more.

I agree with you here. The evidence will tell LE more... they're not just going to take the hubby's word on this.

[southcitymom]

I agree with you here. The evidence will tell LE more... they're not just going to take the hubby's word on this.

Exactly. And based on the story he has told, there are lots of facts that can be foresically verified. LE has described him as very helpful.

[Dena]

Seems like she was trying to get rid of him - the biggest threat to carrying out her plans - first. When he ran away, she was able to do just that.

If it turns out the wife did this, I believe we will hear about mental illness coupled with some sort of precipitating event (affair, imminent divorce, abuse, state of mania) that caused her to, for lack of a better phrase, stop believing in the dream or her family. There may also be a religious component.

Where did she get the gun? Are they "gun" people or did she have to plan and buy one?

On the radio this morning (don't know if it's been written, I haven't read too much today) they said she lost her job and they were having financial troubles.

[southcitymom]

On the radio this morning (don't know if it's been written, I haven't read too much today) they said she lost her job and they were having financial troubles.

I had not read that. That can be extraordinarily stressful. Money woes are soul-numbing, though, of course - you shouldn't murder your family over them.

I often read about financial hard times in cases like this - though I will say that, more often than not, it is the husband that takes the family out in the name of no longer being able to provide what he perceives to be sufficiently for the family.

There is a certain personality type that experiences money woes as an insurmountable failure.

Those sweet children - probably excited as they could be about summer break and spending the day at the waterpark....what did they notice in the days, hours, minutes leading up to the taking of their lives by a parent and what could have been running through their young minds at the very end?....heartbreaking.

[crash676]

[quote=hollyjokers;1533648]So Mr. Vaughn had to pull over in a remote area (in the wee hours of the morning) to tie down luggage (for a day trip)

The area they pulled over makes no sense whatsoever. Let me say first of all that I live on Bluff Road and there is nothing there. Barely any lights or activity period. However one exit before at Rt 6 there are 2/ 24 hour gas stations and plenty of lights and activity because of truck traffic. The distance is less than two miles so it makes no sense whatsoever. Is it possible that this was a murder-suicide pact gone wrong. Meaning hubby and wife agreed about what would take place and he chickened out and ran and she then killed herself in grief.. Just a possibility..

[Dena]

OR - Assuming husband is being truthful - it is possible that she asked him to pull him over and check the luggage, seeing it as an opportunity.

BTW, No I don't think the husband is being truthful, just speculating. I think the angle of the gunshot to his leg will be very telling.

[southcitymom]

[quote=hollyjokers;1533648]So Mr. Vaughn had to pull over in a remote area (in the wee hours of the morning) to tie down luggage (for a day trip)

The area they pulled over makes no sense whatsoever. Let me say first of all that I live on Bluff Road and there is nothing there. Barely any lights or activity period. However one exit before at Rt 6 there are 2/ 24 hour gas stations and plenty of lights and activity because of truck traffic. The distance is less than two miles so it makes no sense whatsoever. Is it possible that this was a murder-suicide pact gone wrong. Meaning hubby and wife agreed about what would take place and he chickened out and ran and she then killed herself in grief.. Just a possibility..

That's an interesting thgouht - the murder/suicide pact...

The choice of location where they pulled over make sense if the issue with the stuff on their car became apparant to them only after they passed the exit with plenty of stuff.

That has happened to my family on trips before - especially if the area is kind of rural. We'll pass the big bust exit and then we'll need to pull over for some reason - to secure the bikes which start to wiggle or whatever - after we've passed the easy place to do that.

If she shot her husband, I feel he must have some idea why...or some sense of her behaving strangely in the time leading up to this. Unless she just had a total psychotic break.....

[Rino]

If this had happened to me, I would have fled. Wounded, hurting, confused, panicked, I would have run.

It would not cross my mind that my spouse would then kill my kids. If I had any conscious thought at all after being suddenly shot, it would have been - "I need to keep myself alive so I can get somewhere and call police."

Maybe he is lying, but I don't think his story sounds outlandish at this point in the investigation. Forensics will tell more.

Well, we will have to wait and see what the investigation uncovers..

But let me ask this then. If as you say it would not cross you're mind that your spouse, who is willing to kill you, would not kill your kids - why are you not shot at more, why are you alive?

[southcitymom]

OR - Assuming husband is being truthful - it is possible that she asked him to pull him over and check the luggage, seeing it as an opportunity.

BTW, No I don't think the husband is being truthful, just speculating. I think the angle of the gunshot to his leg will be very telling.

That's something I thought of as well.

Yes - the angle of the wound to his leg AND her headshot and gunpowder residue on her hand will be telling.

Also, where the gun came from if they weren't people who kept guns around regularly.

I do believe the husband at this stage of the game, but reserve the right to change my mind as more is discovered!

ETA: in many other cases where a family winds up slaughtered and an adult comes away wounded (Routier, that man in Boston that shot his pregnant wife, etc...), the survivor claims an intruder/outsider did it and they can ride that party line for a long time. The husband in this case isn't saying that at all. For some reason, this leads me to believe he is telling the truth)

[hollyjokers]

Wonder if there is a considerable life insurance policy. How much do clubhouse attendants make annually? Does not sound like a life-altering change to lose a job like that especially if she just got a degree in criminal justice, she would have probably been ready to move on anyway.

I know he's innocent until proven guilty. It IS plausible that things could have happened exactly the way he says but it just sounds like we've been down this dark deserted road before.

[crash676]

[quote=southcitymom;1533750][quote=crash676;1533731]

That's an interesting thgouht - the murder/suicide pact...

The choice of location where they pulled over make sense if the issue with the stuff on their car became apparant to them only after they passed the exit with plenty of stuff.

That has happened to my family on trips before - especially if the area is kind of rural. We'll pass the big bust exit and then we'll need to pull over for some reason - to secure the bikes which start to wiggle or whatever - after we've passed the easy place to do that

Yes this makes sense but you do not get off the exit (that by the way is good half mile long) and then take the frontage road about a 1/2 to a mile and then pull over in the area of a cell tower in pitch darkness literally pitch dark there are no lights there except on the main road which is Bluff Road. One frontaqge road is easily accesible the other wher they were found is tricky to get to and you would have to know where you were going. This is not a very busy area so it makes no sense whatsover to end up where they were to fix luggage. As teenagers we used this area to park and makeout if that helps describe this area.

[Camper]

Insightful posts - posters!

Is it possible at that the children may have been asleep when they were shot. The people who lived in the area heard shots about 10PM? Didn't the link coverage say they left in the WEE hours of the morning? Help me out, I am a tad confused, wasn't it said that the waterpark was 3 hours away - HAD they already been to the waterpark and might have been headed to grandmas??? HELP ME!

Is is possible the wife could have been drugged with a drink and was not conscious when shot?

Wonder just how many shots were heard by the neighbors?

A woman has no real way to 'hide' or keep a gun out of sight, other than in her purse, WHERE was her purse 'AT' the crime scene?

Another incredible senseless case of murder.


I have a daughter NOW, divorced two years ago, that is in a troublesome situation with her X. He is very very smart, and has this type of behavior in him, I am scared spitless, for her safety. HE is a loose canon, but the type who would pre figure out a way to do a dirty deed without getting HIS hands dirty.

.

[Camper]

Wonder if there is a considerable life insurance policy. How much do clubhouse attendants make annually? Does not sound like a life-altering change to lose a job like that especially if she just got a degree in criminal justice, she would have probably been ready to move on anyway.

I know he's innocent until proven guilty. It IS plausible that things could have happened exactly the way he says but it just sounds like we've been down this dark deserted road before.




--->>>Well HE had transferred from WA, so I would think that his paycheck was stable. I cannot think that the wifes job would have added that much to the coffers.

The news is very quiet on this case this morning, TV cable is covering everything but the kitchen sink. Husband is not being held, wonder IF there is another gun at his house, IF IF that is where he is?

.

[Annie]

Articles today say the husband/father is not a suspect. The story just doesn't make sense. One article said he is a computer forensics expert. I don't know exactly what that is. If she had lost her job, maybe there was life insurance. I just don't buy his story at this time. You would think, according to the family and neighbors, that they were not having any problems. But then that was the first report we heard on both Scott & Laci Peterson and Matthew & Mary Winkler. I think it is very rare for a mother to shoot her children multiple times. If he did it, I hope they can prove it and don't just dismiss him as a suspect so readily.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/06/15/illinois.bodiesfound.ap/index.html

[SeriouslySearching]

This is a sad and tragic case. My heart goes out to the grandparents and families.

Being that he was an investigator, I would assume the gun belonged to him...altho with her degree in Criminal Justice...she also might own a gun. It is becoming more common for people traveling at night to carry a concealed weapon for protection and in some states...the laws permit this.

Another thing I heard mentioned was financial trouble. She had recently appeared on TV in their new home and if they were going to possibly lose their home over financial difficulties...perhaps she was worried about being publically humilated. Some overachievers cannot fathom their failures to be out in the open for the world to see and could give either one motive for this senseless killing.

No matter how this plays out, there are 3 innocent children dead and grieving grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other family members trying to comprehend it all. Domestic crimes are all too commonplace and the children get caught in the crossfire too many times. I wish people knew more of how to read the warning signs, catch the red flags, and intervene before these tragedies unfold. It is just so sad.

[Peter Hamilton]

Well, Diana Downs shot her children multiple times, 2 were killed,and the other paralyzed--so a mother is certainly capable of that sort of crime but in this case the husband was around and he only had a leg wound? very suspicious--give him a lie-detector test

[Garnan]

I would expect a mom who is planning on killing her children and then committing suicide to NOT do it in the car. Comfort would be of utmost importance. She would do it at home, and tuck them into their beds after. She wouldn't use a gun, not on them anyway. I just don't see this as the true scenario, something is very "off" here imo. I hope the husband didn't do it, but if he didn't, who is he protecting? I'm not buying murder/suicide.

[SailorMoon]

Didn't he say at first that it was drive by/random shooting, then changed his story?? And from the pic of where she was sitting, I don't think she could shoot all 3 of her kids, and then just sit there. And the police says he's free to go?????!! Something isn't adding up here. And my finger points to him. He didn't just pull off to the side of the road or pull into a road, they were in a remote area. They should be able to tell very easily with forensics.

And how far away from where Lisa Steibic went missing? Not too far isn't it?? Maybe he's followed that and knew what to do and what not to do.

Regardless, what a tragedy. For those 3 kids. I don't think mom shot them at all. But I may very well be wrong.

[Peter Hamilton]

That's something I thought of as well.

Yes - the angle of the wound to his leg AND her headshot and gunpowder residue on her hand will be telling.

Also, where the gun came from if they weren't people who kept guns around regularly.

I do believe the husband at this stage of the game, but reserve the right to change my mind as more is discovered!

ETA: in many other cases where a family winds up slaughtered and an adult comes away wounded (Routier, that man in Boston that shot his pregnant wife, etc...)-- the Boston Case was Charles Stuart,killed his wife so he could open a restaraunt--he then killed himself later

[TGIRecovered]

Jaded, did you read the link in misterallgood's post #33, it is in blue letters.

"hearing shots 3 hours before a 911 call was made" click on those words in his post to reach the link.

I have been scratching my head, and trying to give the husband a chance, because no one likes to believe that he might be guilty ASAP. BUT BUT IF IF he pre planned this, he took a lot of trouble to get the family OUT OF THE HOUSE to do this. Planning the trip, the luggage, the visit to grandmas planned. BUT BUT he missed the basics of Crime 101, and the forensics of it all, angle of the SHOT IN HIS LEG, did the wife have gunshot powder residue on her.
HE IS BEING totally cooperative with LE, link says.

WHAT WE NEED IS THE MOTIVE. A girlfriend in the wings perhaps ?? OR ?? It could not be THAT simple could it?


.

He probably wants to be able to sell the house .Hard to get a good price these days on a home where an entire family was slaughtered.

Susan

[SewingDeb]

Annie,

I believe he owned his own company: Stonebridge Investigations. They have a website.

[Dena]

Wonder if there is a considerable life insurance policy. How much do clubhouse attendants make annually? Does not sound like a life-altering change to lose a job like that especially if she just got a degree in criminal justice, she would have probably been ready to move on anyway.

I know he's innocent until proven guilty. It IS plausible that things could have happened exactly the way he says but it just sounds like we've been down this dark deserted road before.

Plus she only worked part time, that was something that stuck out to me. Any loss of income for a family is a big deal, so I hate to presume the loss of her part time job is not a big deal. However, is it life altering enough to kill your family?

[Garnan]

Maybe they let him go so that he could hang himself. If the hubby did it, or if he's protecting the perp for some reason, he'll flub up soon enough. But he has to be free to do that. If there is another woman, he won't be able to stay away from her for long. You don't kill babies and your wife to be with another woman, and then patiently bide your time until "the coast is clear", he's going to need to see her right away. That is, if there is a she to see.

[Dena]

Articles today say the husband/father is not a suspect. The story just doesn't make sense. One article said he is a computer forensics expert. I don't know exactly what that is.

A computer forensics expert is someone who can look at a computer as sort of a crime scene, and dig up clues. They have tools to look deep into the computer, check out things that may have been deleted. (nothing is REALLY deleted)
Their services are often used in crimes where a suspect has a computer, to dig up e-mails and documents.

[Masterj]

I would expect a mom who is planning on killing her children and then committing suicide to NOT do it in the car. Comfort would be of utmost importance. She would do it at home, and tuck them into their beds after. She wouldn't use a gun, not on them anyway. I just don't see this as the true scenario, something is very "off" here imo. I hope the husband didn't do it, but if he didn't, who is he protecting? I'm not buying murder/suicide.

No offense Garnan, but I think if someone is planning to to commit suicide, comfort is the last thing on their mind.

[southcitymom]

Didn't he say at first that it was drive by/random shooting, then changed his story?? And from the pic of where she was sitting, I don't think she could shoot all 3 of her kids, and then just sit there. And the police says he's free to go?????!! Something isn't adding up here. And my finger points to him. He didn't just pull off to the side of the road or pull into a road, they were in a remote area. They should be able to tell very easily with forensics.

And how far away from where Lisa Steibic went missing? Not too far isn't it?? Maybe he's followed that and knew what to do and what not to do.

Regardless, what a tragedy. For those 3 kids. I don't think mom shot them at all. But I may very well be wrong.

No - his story has been the same from the get-go.

When this story first broke, I really thought "of course the surviving husband did it," but at this point in the game, I believe what he is saying. If he's an investigator, he would know that police forensics could tell if the evidence backs him up. If he's planning this type of crim,e it makes much more sense to say a stranger did it.

I - of course - reserve the right to change my opinion. I don't watch the news so don't know what is being said on TV.

[southcitymom]

I would expect a mom who is planning on killing her children and then committing suicide to NOT do it in the car. Comfort would be of utmost importance. She would do it at home, and tuck them into their beds after. She wouldn't use a gun, not on them anyway. I just don't see this as the true scenario, something is very "off" here imo. I hope the husband didn't do it, but if he didn't, who is he protecting? I'm not buying murder/suicide.


Well - she may have wanted to do it in the car because it would be easy - shooting fish in a barrel, so to speak - three kids in the back of a locked car...if she did it, she was prepared to get them all dead, it seems.

I doubt comfort had much to do with it at all.

[southcitymom]

Well, we will have to wait and see what the investigation uncovers..

But let me ask this then. If as you say it would not cross you're mind that your spouse, who is willing to kill you, would not kill your kids - why are you not shot at more, why are you alive?

I'm confused (a regular state of existence for me, I'm afraid!) by the question....

[southcitymom]

Yes this makes sense but you do not get off the exit (that by the way is good half mile long) and then take the frontage road about a 1/2 to a mile and then pull over in the area of a cell tower in pitch darkness literally pitch dark there are no lights there except on the main road which is Bluff Road. One frontaqge road is easily accesible the other wher they were found is tricky to get to and you would have to know where you were going. This is not a very busy area so it makes no sense whatsover to end up where they were to fix luggage. As teenagers we used this area to park and makeout if that helps describe this area.

That is interesting....I do not know - unless they got lost or turned around in the darkness while trying to find a safe place to fix the luggage.

[southcitymom]

..... The story just doesn't make sense. .....

You are absolutely right, but I'll bet my bottom dollar there's a lot we don't know!! Obviously. You don't take out your family like this without a "reason."

[Rino]

I'm confused (a regular state of existence for me, I'm afraid!) by the question....
I live in that state, too :D

I just wonder if she wanted him dead (shooting him and then the kids) Why did she not shoot him in the back as he ran, or take other shots at him? He does not tell the police that as he fled she fired more shots at him. To me it just does not pass the smell test.

[southcitymom]

I live in that state, too :D

I just wonder if she wanted him dead (shooting him and then the kids) Why did she not shoot him in the back as he ran, or take other shots at him? He does not tell the police that as he fled she fired more shots at him. To me it just does not pass the smell test.

Okay - I;m glad to have a friend in that state!

Who knows what happens when people go on a gun-slinging murderous spree? She could have shot him first to get rid of the strongest element, saw a bunch of blood and him hobbling away, figured - he'll bleed to death - and went about with the rest of her business....

The fact that she didn't hunt him down to make sure he was dead doesn't necessarily "smell" to me.

Or, how about this, if she's super hateful and sick....she wounds him and then kills the rest of them knowing that will hurt him more than anything if he lives...

I actually doubt she was trying to leave him alive - just throwing out random ideas. I think that if it went down the way he says it did - she was ready and willing to end their family for good.

[hollyjokers]

I just read on cbs chicago that his parents drove up from St. Louis to be with him & he has not made contact with them.
http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/local_story_166072955.html

[southcitymom]

I just read on cbs chicago that his parents drove up from St. Louis to be with him & he has not been in contact.

He has not been in contact with who?

[hollyjokers]

He has not been in contact with who?

His parents. They don't know where he is. His mother learned of the deaths from a reporter.

[pinkbay]

They say his whereabouts aren't known.

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=local&id=5396814

[SewingDeb]

I hope LE knows where he is.

[Camper]

He has not been in contact with who?



--->>>From the new link bottom of page 4 here:

"Meanwhile, neighbors said they have not seen Christopher Vaughn, and his parents who drove in from St. Louis also have not been in contact with him.

"You guys know as much as the police do and everything else, so I really don't have any comment," Vaughn's father said.

Vaughn's father told a neighbor he is concerned about his son and was hoping Christopher would be home by now.

"They thought maybe he came out here because the police told them he was released last night," said neighbor Mohammed Ansar. "He said he's worried about him.
In a situation like that, a person could do anything."


.

[twinkiesmom]

Why would anyone believe anything he says until the ballistics come back?

[fran]

Soooo, hubby drives up a deserted road? under the pretext of fixing the luggage. He's outside of the vehicle fixing the luggage, wife rolls down the window to talk to him while he's busy, he walks up behind her and 'wham!' shoots her on the side of the head! Then he proceeds to shoot the children in the rear of the car. Then, to make it look like she's the guilty party, he takes her dead hand, shoots one or more times at the kids, shoots himself once in the leg and throws the gun into the vehicle. THEN he takes his time to make sure there's no gun powder residue on his hands, I mean he did have three hours or so, right? and then finds someone to call 911.:bang:

OK, tell me one computer expert who does NOT carry a cell phone, or one of those personal data type things that can also go onto the internet?

I'm not buyin' it. I don't believe she's the perp. imho

Besides, where is he now?

JMHO
fran

PS....We don't know that they were having money problems. They were approved for the loan on his salary, I assume. I mean, she was working in the clubhouse of that same housing development, right? So she probably got the job AFTER they moved there and probably to use up some of her extra time while the kids were in school. Let's see if there's an insurance premium or one or two gf's come out of the woodwork. After all, they said he traveled a great deal.....fran

[hollyjokers]

I am sure the grieving father/husband will soon emerge....














from the office of a criminal defense attorney. I mean you can't call your parents & inform them of their dil & grandchildren's horrible demise until you've lawyered up.

[LovingTheChaos]

I wonder if the reason the police are publicly stating that he is not a suspect is because they have also lost track of him, & they don't want to give him any reason to run. He may have already run. Or maybe he's killed himself. I do not buy for one moment that this mother killed her children.

[JanetElaine]

I wonder if the reason the police are publicly stating that he is not a suspect is because they have also lost track of him, & they don't want to give him any reason to run. He may have already run. Or maybe he's killed himself. I do not buy for one moment that this mother killed her children.

Me neither. No way. And not because I don't think a mother can't kill her children - mothers can do this just as well as anyone (well, you know what I mean). But there is no way in heck she shot her husband in the leg, shot her three kids in the backseat and shot herself - all from the passenger seat. If she did it, no way did she shoot the kids from the passenger seat (can you imagine someone trying to do that?). She'd have to get out of the car. Then why go back in to sit down and shoot herself? Nu-uh. Not making sense. The husband disappearing is just the cherry on top of the arrow pointing at his guilt.

[fran]

I am sure the grieving father/husband will soon emerge....














from the office of a criminal defense attorney. I mean you can't call your parents & inform them of their dil & grandchildren's horrible demise until you've lawyered up.


OhMyGosh!

I didn't think of that! You may be sooo right............or...........he realized how LAME :croc: his story sounded to REAL LAW ENFORCEMENT and knew he wasn't going to get away with it so he RAN............................!

JMHO
fran

PS.....IMHO, he's a wanna-be LE, thought he knew how to get away with the perfect crime,...................but...................sor ry-a....................doesn't make sense to me!:loser: fran

[Camper]

Some more random thoughts.

1. When LE released him, what method of transportation took him from the PD station? A taxi --> trip log?
The murder car would be in possession of LE for evidence collection.

2. Could the children have been given a date rape drug to put them out -- ?drinking containers in the car ? probably not OR?
a. IF date rape drug was given somehow, there would be no trace in autopsy, and the children cannot tell now.

3. When the bodies were found in the car, their positions, and the trajectories of the bullets that entered their bodies, would indicate if they had tried to escape. OR OR IFIF they were knocked out with DRD, the bullet entries would most likely be pretty much the same IF IF the victims were NOT awake

4. MOTIVE, what was the MOTIVE?????????????? Thats the big question?!?!?

5. Betcha part of the delay in flagging down a car, was because HE buried some evidence, drinking containers etc.

[Annie]

I can't think of the name of it, but there was a book/movie a few years ago about a man who made arrangements to stop at a deserted place and had made arrangements for a killer to be there waiting to kill his wife. I think that is possible in this case. He could have had the person shoot him once to make it look like she shot him too. It just seems such an odd place to stop in the dark, and if the lady who lives in the area heard shots at 10:00 and it wasn't reported for a few hours, it really makes it a strange case. Almost everyone carries a cell phone, especially when traveling. Things just don't add up in his story. Even if he was shot in the leg, what father would just run and let someone kill their children?

[IdahoMom]

Another link. My apologies if this is already here and I've missed it:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003748996_family15e.html

Cute picture of Kimberly:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ABPub/2007/06/14/2003748537.jpg

I've been wondering what her family has had to say. I found something here, in addition to a quote from his Mom:

http://www.bradenton.com/439/story/74157.html

snip

Kimberly Vaughn's sister, Nikki Isemann, told the Chicago Tribune her sister was looking forward to a romantic weekend getaway with her husband.
"Kim was very excited about it, getting last-minute things packed," Isemann said. "Her husband, he adored her. He would do everything for her."
Christopher Vaughn's mother, Gail Vaughn, told the Chicago Sun Times her son didn't appear to have any marital problems.
A neighbor said he had never seen any signs of discord at the Vaughn house.

[nanandjim]

I can't think of the name of it, but there was a book/movie a few years ago about a man who made arrangements to stop at a deserted place and had made arrangements for a killer to be there waiting to kill his wife. I think that is possible in this case. He could have had the person shoot him once to make it look like she shot him too. It just seems such an odd place to stop in the dark, and if the lady who lives in the area heard shots at 10:00 and it wasn't reported for a few hours, it really makes it a strange case. Almost everyone carries a cell phone, especially when traveling. Things just don't add up in his story. Even if he was shot in the leg, what father would just run and let someone kill their children?
I know the case of which you speak. One of the sons (Robby) is married to Tracey Gold (the actress). The husband, who had a mistress who was pressuring him to get a divorce, took his wife somewhere (NJ?) for a romantic dinner. I think that it was on the way back to the house that he stopped to check a tire that he said was low. A gunman was there waiting. He murdered her and maybe shot him. It turned out that he set it all up.

I would be really curious to know if this guy had a mistress or if he were in debt.

[southcitymom]

I know the case of which you speak. One of the sons (Robby) is married to Tracey Gold (the actress). The husband, who had a mistress who was pressuring him to get a divorce, took his wife somewhere (NJ?) for a romantic dinner. I think that it was on the way back to the house that he stopped to check a tire that he said was low. A gunman was there waiting. He murdered her and maybe shot him. It turned out that he set it all up.

I would be really curious to know if this guy had a mistress or if he were in debt.

That reminds me of Fred Tokars - the Atlanta atty who hired a con to murder his wife in front of his two young sons.

[opme]

I am sorry but I just dont buy this story or load of horse manure. WHO the H*ll stops in the middle of the night on a side road in the dark of night in a wooded area to adjust or tighten luggage?? off the main road on a frontage road.. on their way to a waterpark/vacation destination. Firstly why travel at that time of night for a 3 hours trip? These are small kids who parents would find it easier to travel with while sleeping.. these kids are preteens. Secondly,who's gun was used and why did they find the need to pack it to take on vacation to a water park? its not a friggin floatation device. Thirdly Why the delay in obtaining assistance.. unless he is hiding something. He didnt have aphone when traveling? No way.. Why didnt he get back in the car and drive it back to road if he couldnt walk or to a hospital since this would get help the fast way possible? Why would he run away leaving his children at the mercy of someone who shot him as he was sitting beside them.. ?Wouldnt most people go after the gun especially if wounded rather than run away before they could harm anyone else? This whole things stinks to high heaven.. sorry but nothing about this makes any sense or in my mind adds up to the wife doing the shooting...I suspect that this is another Neil Entwhistle or another complete loser who has a secret life or a lifestyle that he has been "providing" for the family but nothing but a failing business that wont support them in the same manner that has been so far and the illusion has already burst or was about to and he is to be publically embarassed and or possibly committed fraud himself so that charges are about to be filed that is at the root of this...

[Camper]

Another link. My apologies if this is already here and I've missed it:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003748996_family15e.html

Cute picture of Kimberly:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ABPub/2007/06/14/2003748537.jpg

I've been wondering what her family has had to say. I found something here, in addition to a quote from his Mom:

http://www.bradenton.com/439/story/74157.html

snip

Kimberly Vaughn's sister, Nikki Isemann, told the Chicago Tribune her sister was looking forward to a romantic weekend getaway with her husband.
"Kim was very excited about it, getting last-minute things packed," Isemann said. "Her husband, he adored her. He would do everything for her."
Christopher Vaughn's mother, Gail Vaughn, told the Chicago Sun Times her son didn't appear to have any marital problems.
A neighbor said he had never seen any signs of discord at the Vaughn house.




--->>>Interesting link Idaho Mom, it says HE had closed his company in Washington, and MERGED with a similar company in Chicago. That info just might be the lynch pin of this case. Someone MAY have HAD a problem with someone else coming into their secured area and perhaps being able to shine a light on something that was protected by pay offs to keep it under the covers.

We did not have the link you provided here.

.

[SadieMae]

What I don't understand is why the kids, they were old enough, run also? I mean if I saw my Mom taking shots at my Dad, we kids woulda been outta there!!! Or at least some screaming and crying. The neighbor heard the shots but not screams or yelling? Not even him yelling about wtf she was doing or for the kids to run (if indeed she was the shooter)? They are on the side of a highway, and so where was he for hours after gunshots were heard? Why wasn't he flagging cars down while running down the road? Somethings hinky about this.

[Amraann]

What I don't understand is why the kids, they were old enough, run also? I mean if I saw my Mom taking shots at my Dad, we kids woulda been outta there!!! Or at least some screaming and crying. The neighbor heard the shots but not screams or yelling? Not even him yelling about wtf she was doing or for the kids to run (if indeed she was the shooter)? They are on the side of a highway, and so where was he for hours after gunshots were heard? Why wasn't he flagging cars down while running down the road? Somethings hinky about this.

I was wondering the same thing.
Possibly the doors had been child locked?
But still I don't understand how come noone heard screaming OR why he would run leaving his children?

[opme]

Ok was thinkign about this earlier.. if the wife was intent on killing the husband.. why would she wait until he was in an seated back in the car to start shooting...also at point blank or alomost point blank range.. how is it he was only hit once? She wouldn't be that restrained to use only one shot so she had "enough" for herself and the kids...? The kids must have heard the shots.. why would they as others have stated sit idely by waiting to be killed and not try to run or struggle with her..
If the father is seated when she shoots him.. why didnt he try to overpower her.. his physical mass is likely to be greater as well as upper body strength even in that moment Flight or fight would kick in .. why not fight at that range.. ?How is it she missed him on the way out the car as he was "running".? Why didnt he scream, hink the horn, trigger the car alarm or do something to gain attention ...sill cant convince myself that he is anything but guilty and that the police are just putting the facts together until they have enough to have the charges stick.

[Reannan]

Ok....just jumping in here. Haven't read all of the other postings yes, but will try and go back and catch up. Been at work, and over at Huff's place. As to how she shot him??? In my opinion, she was struggling with him over the gun and it went off just before he shot her. Sick.

[philamena]

From Misterallgood's link Vaughn said that when he got back into the SUV, his wife began firing a handgun. He was shot in the leg, and he fled, he reportedly told investigators. When he returned, his wife and children had all been shot.

HUu? I'm sorry....I'm having a hard time taking this serious. His wife shot and killed the kids yet only shot the husband in the leg. And he had the gall to wait hours before calling 911?

Not buying it. A scorned wife shoots her cheating husband in the b*lls....she does NOT shoot her kids.

[philamena]

According to him, they were on a family trip to a water park. Police say stuff in the car supports that story. They pulled over so that he could get out of the car and secure some stuff on the top that seemed to be coming loose.
......


Funny how his story reminds me of Scott Peterson's fishing story.:croc:

[SadieMae]

From Misterallgood's link

HUu? I'm sorry....I'm having a hard time taking this serious. His wife shot and killed the kids yet only shot the husband in the leg. And he had the gall to wait hours before calling 911?

Not buying it. A scorned wife shoots her cheating husband in the b*lls....she does NOT shoot her kids.

The time frame until the 911 call truely is hinky. If a neighbor heard gunshots, then he could easily see houses to run to for help after being shot. :waitasec: Where was he????

[philamena]

SadieMae,
You are so right. There is no way that a man who loved his children waited hours to call for help. Just learning that he hasn't been seen tells me that he doesn't want to be found.

[Bobbisangel]

Here is what one article said about his job.....


Christopher Vaughn is a computer forensic adviser and specializes in missing persons investigations and cyber-crime prevention.

.................................................. .................................................. .....

In another article it said that two cell phones were found in the vehicle! Funny that he couldn't call 911. If his wife took a shot at him why did he just take off and leave the children with her. Then he waited for hours before he went back to the car???? I think he slaughtered all of them and then shot himself in the leg. But WHY did he do it.....if he did?

The article that I read didn't say that he even flagged down a car. It said that someone in a vehicle saw him and the vehicle and called 911. It didn't sound like he was trying to get help to me.

Why wouldn't he have called his parents? That is horrible that they had to hear it on the news. I can't even imagine how they feel.

I think the police let him go as they said because they couldn't hold him forever. They will wait and see what forensics comes up with and then make their move. If he is the guilty party it is horrible that he would blame this on his wife. I hope the lab doesn't take a year to get to the evidence.

[IdahoMom]

Good. This is what I've been waiting to hear. Kimberly's Mom is speaking out:

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/430773,CST-NWS-chann16.article

snip

Kimberly Vaughn's mother just can't buy it.
Susan Phillips said Friday it "made no sense" for her Oswego daughter to shoot and wound her husband, kill their three children and then kill herself inside the couple's sport-utility vehicle during an early-morning family trip to a Springfield water park.
"Does that even make sense?" Phillips said of the version of events authorities say the sole survivor -- Phillips' son-in-law, Christopher Vaughn -- gave police investigating the bizarre Thursday crime scene.

"I don't believe it."...

….Phillips said her daughter was looking forward to spending this weekend alone with her husband at the bed and breakfast where the couple had honeymooned. Christopher Vaughn's mother and aunt were coming up to Oswego from Missouri to babysit the three Vaughn children for the weekend because Kimberly was "very protective of the kids," Phillips said in a phone interview….
….But Phillips said her daughter never mentioned anything about going to a water park, particularly one in Springfield.
With so many water parks in the Chicago area, "Why would anyone go to that crummy place?" Phillips said.
"I don't know what he said [to police]," Phillips said of her son-in-law. "All I know is what we knew ahead of time. . . . The water park -- that was the first I heard of it. ... They were going back there [to the bed and breakfast] for a romantic retreat so going [to a Springfield water park] made no sense," Phillips said.….
…Another neighbor, Dolores Lopez, found it hard to believe Kimberly Vaughn would kill her own children. Lopez said Kimberly walked her kids to the school bus stop every day, regardless of the weather. She seemed very protective of them, Lopez said.
Another neighbor noted that the couple has two dogs -- a golden retriever and a schnauzer -- and expressed surprise that Kimberly would leave them alone for such an extended period of time…

[IdahoMom]

More neighbor remarks:

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/430742,2_1_AU16_SLAYINGS_S1.article

snip

"It just doesn't make sense," Stasinos said Friday. "There's something not right. The (luggage) carrier's been on for months. They've never had a problem with it."
"They're trying to say she did all those things," said another neighbor, who declined to give her name.
Kimberly Vaughn often stopped by her house for visits, the neighbor said.
"We don't believe it for a second," she said.
Kimberly Vaughn was "a very good mother, a loving person," she said. "She was always happy. I never noticed anything was wrong."

[southcitymom]

If the husband did this - why kill the entire family? Does he have a secret other life?

Also, has anyone heard from him as of today?

[PrayersForMaura]

how many rounds did the gun hold? 5 shots minimum were fired but I read that the kids were shot multiple times. Did the shooter reload?

[Mygirlsadie]

I am not buying this guys story for a second..But I do have to say that one time when we were still living in Fort Hood Texas that a lady who lived on base right down the street from us bit off her sons penis. She found out her husband was cheating on her was her excuse.



From Misterallgood's link

HUu? I'm sorry....I'm having a hard time taking this serious. His wife shot and killed the kids yet only shot the husband in the leg. And he had the gall to wait hours before calling 911?

Not buying it. A scorned wife shoots her cheating husband in the b*lls....she does NOT shoot her kids.

[MagicRose99]

Playing devils advocate here... I have not formed a conclusion of who's innocent/guilty. But, here's a possible scenario:

After checking the luggage rack, he returns to the SUV. He turns sideways, lifts his leg to slide on the seat, and she panics or rushes the shot and hits him in the leg. He pulls out of the SUV, turns towards the rear of the vehicle, and runs, hearing more shots, thinking she's shooting at him, when in actuality, she shooting the kids, then herself. She cannot see him clearly to continue shooting at him, but he's not thinking to clearly at this point.

[SadieMae]

Playing devils advocate here... I have not formed a conclusion of who's innocent/guilty. But, here's a possible scenario:

After checking the luggage rack, he returns to the SUV. He turns sideways, lifts his leg to slide on the seat, and she panics or rushes the shot and hits him in the leg. He pulls out of the SUV, turns towards the rear of the vehicle, and runs, hearing more shots, thinking she's shooting at him, when in actuality, she shooting the kids, then herself. She cannot see him clearly to continue shooting at him, but he's not thinking to clearly at this point.
Still doesn't answer the question why HOURS went by before he got help, even if he didn't have a phone on him. Especially if he thought she was still firing shots at HIM. She could not kill all 3 children without some screaming going on, the door/window had to be open if he though she was still shooting at him. His story is BS. JMO

[FactsareFacts]

Still doesn't answer the question why HOURS went by before he got help, even if he didn't have a phone on him. Especially if he thought she was still firing shots at HIM. She could not kill all 3 children without some screaming going on, the door/window had to be open if he though she was still shooting at him. His story is BS. JMO


Big time BS IMO! If he could run on his wounded leg then he also could have driven with it. Instead he sits there with his dead family for hours.

[fran]

Playing devils advocate here... I have not formed a conclusion of who's innocent/guilty. But, here's a possible scenario:

After checking the luggage rack, he returns to the SUV. He turns sideways, lifts his leg to slide on the seat, and she panics or rushes the shot and hits him in the leg. He pulls out of the SUV, turns towards the rear of the vehicle, and runs, hearing more shots, thinking she's shooting at him, when in actuality, she shooting the kids, then herself. She cannot see him clearly to continue shooting at him, but he's not thinking to clearly at this point.

Actually, MagicRose99, your scenario of him believing the additional shots were intended for him does make sense. What doesn't make sense is he waited HOURS before he tried to get help. Why?

My theory is he was 'staging' the crime scene. IMHO, he did it and as he considers himself a 'cyber sleuth,' albeit for 'cyber crime,' perhaps he was also an amateur real life crime sleuth, (like us:)) who thought he found a way to get away with the 'perfect crime.'

He would need to do so many things to make it appear she did the shooting, shot gun residue on her hand and clothes, the tragectory of the shots, making sure there was no shot gun residue on himself, a million things. But,....LE can see through this type of manipulation, often times.

It's also what happens AFTER the incident that can lead LE to the RIGHT perp. Of course he was cooperative. He knew he needed to cooperate to take suspcion off himself. But, he didn't even call his family, or hers? He just up and disappeared?

From what I've read he was a very attentive husband, always lavishing her with gifts, etc. Scott Peterson was the same way, of course not just with his wife but his 'side salads' ;) as well.

IMHO, in the days ahead, we're going to find out 'secrets' of the husband 'victim' and NOT a suspect. A hidden life, financial problems his wife was NOT aware of,.................just like with the Entwistle (sp?) case, she thought everything was ok with his online business as well and they had just moved to a new area, new home, drove nice cars. Unfortunately, she was DEAD WRONG and she and their adorable infant daughter paid the ultimate price. :(

JMHO
fran

[Camper]

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003599167&imw=Y

Published: June 15, 2007 1:22 PM ET* Yesterday info.

Dad Christopher Vaughn, 32, was found nearby in a another SUV, with a gunshot
wound in his thigh.

News accounts said he told investigators the family had stopped their vehicles along
the road to secure some luggage, and that his wife suddenly began firing a handgun.
Christopher Vaughn said he fled, and that when he returned, he found Kimberly and
the children shot to death.

This is new OLDE news, first time WE have seen that there were
two vehicles.
- - - - - - - - - -
Another link from later in the day of the 15 Friday*
Published June 15, 2007, 9:00 PM CDT*

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-070615channahon-homicides,1,270516.story?coll=chi-news-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true


Chris' parents, Pierre and Gail Vaughn, drove in from Missouri overnight, catching
up with their son at a hotel before noon Friday, said his aunt, Nancy VanWilder.
They got him something to eat and tended to his two gunshot wounds, one of
which was on the thigh as police described a day earlier. VanWilder said she did not
know where else he was wounded.

"He's suffering from these wounds, and he's in a state of shock," she said. "He's
quiet. He's just hurting. He's devastated. He didn't want to go to his home. He didn't
want to pick up the pets."

There are videos news links also on this link.
- - - - - - - - - -*

I have seen nothing on TV cable news.* News reports can sure get
fouled up it appears.* WHY WERE they in two cars???* DID his car have the pets,
did he stop to walk the dogs, and did he kill the dogs too, FIRST.**

[southcitymom]

Camper,

I believe the second SUV (the one he was found in) that is mentioned in your first link belonged to the passerby that found Chris Vaughn. I could be wrong, but I think I heard this mentioned elsewhere.

I'll say this - whichever parent did this was hiding some deep stuff....and I'm hard-pressed to believe that the one who didn't do it hadn't noticed something amiss! This whole thing is nuts.

[DEPUTYDAWG]

how many rounds did the gun hold? 5 shots minimum were fired but I read that the kids were shot multiple times. Did the shooter reload?

I haven't read anywhere that they've released the type of gun utilized but many people think 6 is a maximum number. That's if a revolver is used.

However, I think it's more likely that a semi-auto was used; if that's the case, a common magazine for civilians will hold 10 rounds. (LE has mags that hold more.)

[Amraann]

Mygirlsadie...
Your post about the Fort Hood Tx women (I can't quote it ... without being traumatized)

Is absolutely one of the most disgusting things I ever heard of.
She should have gotten that swift TX death Penalty for that.

[Camper]

Camper,

I believe the second SUV (the one he was found in) that is mentioned in your first link belonged to the passerby that found Chris Vaughn. I could be wrong, but I think I heard this mentioned elsewhere.

I'll say this - whichever parent did this was hiding some deep stuff....and I'm hard-pressed to believe that the one who didn't do it hadn't noticed something amiss! This whole thing is nuts.




--->>>Well, I don't think we have all the straight scoop yet about what happened. From my post #117 just above.


http://www.editorandpublisher.com/ea...599167&imw= Y

Published: June 15, 2007 1:22 PM ET* Yesterday info.

Dad Christopher Vaughn, 32, was found nearby in a another SUV, with a gunshot
wound in his thigh.

News accounts said he told investigators the family had stopped their vehicles along
the road to secure some luggage

So perhaps what we have in these links are some creative reporting by a newsperson, short a few marbles.

.

[fran]

I haven't read anywhere that they've released the type of gun utilized but many people think 6 is a maximum number. That's if a revolver is used.

However, I think it's more likely that a semi-auto was used; if that's the case, a common magazine for civilians will hold 10 rounds. (LE has mags that hold more.)

It had to have been a semi-auto to get off that many rounds. IF each of the three kids was shot multiple times and one was aimed at the husband and then she shot herself, well, that's too many to just be a regular handgun, as you said.

I haven't heard anywhere else that he was shot more than ONCE. IF he's telling his family that, IMHO, he's lying. For sympathy?

Sorry, after reading about her and how she treated her children, there's no way she did this. I do NOT believe his story.

I'll wait for the facts to come out. His story doesn't add up, imo. You don't wait hours upon hours after an incident such as this to report it. I still think he was using the time to stage the crime.:eek:

We'll see.
fran

[SadieMae]

I am not buying this guys story for a second..But I do have to say that one time when we were still living in Fort Hood Texas that a lady who lived on base right down the street from us bit off her sons penis. She found out her husband was cheating on her was her excuse.
My God, I remember that. I think she was just recently sentenced.

[DEPUTYDAWG]

It had to have been a semi-auto to get off that many rounds. IF each of the three kids was shot multiple times and one was aimed at the husband and then she shot herself, well, that's too many to just be a regular handgun, as you said.

I haven't heard anywhere else that he was shot more than ONCE. IF he's telling his family that, IMHO, he's lying. For sympathy?

Sorry, after reading about her and how she treated her children, there's no way she did this. I do NOT believe his story.

I'll wait for the facts to come out. His story doesn't add up, imo. You don't wait hours upon hours after an incident such as this to report it. I still think he was using the time to stage the crime.:eek:

We'll see.
fran

Fran,
I agree. Although we know very little, it's not looking so good for him, IMO!

[t93]

I know someone going to Knights Action Park tomorrow, as a matter of fact. I personally have never been there, but it is a very small looking attraction, and there are lots of other choices within driving distance. That is suspicious thing number one. Also, I think there would have been a sign of struggle with the older children. If the mom shot the dad and he ran, the gunshot would have woken the children instantly (assuming they were sleeping) and mom's focus would have naturally been on Dad running for at least a moment or two. The children would had some idea of what was going on, and at least panicked. If Dad did it, it would have been boom boom, boom-no time for anyone to have really reacted. I am keeping an open mind, but there are more unanswered questions than I am comfortable with.

[Camper]

I am having an interesting thought.

Could the person who MADE the call for Vaughn have been the shooter?

WE don't know where the two encountered each other, whether Vaughn walked to the main road, OR OR IF the other car was already there by the CELL tower.

The Cell tower seems to be a very identifiable location for folks that know the area, am I right, posters from Illinois?

Our minds will probably be overwhelmed when WE learn the MOTIVE for this. Probably not possible with all of the horrid crimes humans seem to be so capable of.

IF IF my thought is correct, then at least the Vaughn family that was murdered would not have had their last thought that their own father was killing them.

.

[Hayley]

I know someone going to Knights Action Park tomorrow, as a matter of fact. I personally have never been there, but it is a very small looking attraction, and there are lots of other choices within driving distance. That is suspicious thing number one.

I agree. I live about 60 miles from Knights and I can't imagine someone driving that far to go there. I don't know much about the area they live in but I have to think there's something bigger and better closer to where they live.

[philamena]

I am not buying this guys story for a second..But I do have to say that one time when we were still living in Fort Hood Texas that a lady who lived on base right down the street from us bit off her sons penis. She found out her husband was cheating on her was her excuse.

OMG that is awful.

Does anyone know if the wife was found in the driver's seat or the front passenger's seat? I'm having a problem making out the pictures.

Interestingly enough, tonight on CBS mystery, the Camm murders were profiled. Husband was twice convicted of 3 counts of murder. He killed his wife and 2 children. Turns out the father was going to be arrested for molesting his little girl, so he and a buddy offed his family. Oh and another woman was involved. The husband was arrested only a few hours after his families memorial service. Here's a link to that case:
http://www.crimelibrary.com/criminal_mind/psychology/fathers_who_kill/7.html
It was late in September 2000 when Kim Camm and her two children, Jill, 5, and Brad, 7, were shot to death in their home in New Albany, Indiana. They had just come in from a swim class, some time after 7 p.m. The two females were shot in the head, the boy in the chest. It was husband and father David Camm who found them when he returned from a basketball game with friends. He was a former Indiana State Trooper and knew how to avoid disturbing the scene. He also had friends to call.

[hollyjokers]

Why would you drive 6 hrs roundtrip to a waterpark spur of the moment when there were better options close by & you already have big weekend travel plans, not to mention your daughter is enrolled in a paid week-long day camp. Things that make you go....hmmmmmmmyou're a no-good lyin b@st@rd

This guy is a piece of work...not only a scott peterson copycat wife & babykiller, but then to try & make it look like the wife did it, there are just no words to adequately describe the likes of him.

[philamena]

Why would you drive 6 hrs roundtrip to a waterpark spur of the moment when there were better options close by & you already have big weekend travel plans, not to mention your daughter is enrolled in a paid week-long day camp. Things that make you go....hmmmmmmmyou're a no-good lyin b@st@rd

This guy is a piece of work...not only a scott peterson copycat wife & babykiller, but then to try & make it look like the wife did it, there are just no words to adequately describe the likes of him.
:clap:

[AutumnBorn]

Kimberly's mother is quoted as asking why anyone would want to go to "that crappy place", referring to Springfield where Christopher allegedly was taking his family to visit a water park. Well, I happened to be in the area for a funeral on Thursday. Stayed at ye old Fairfield Inn, in that "crappy" place.

While I can't say Springfield, IL is the most beautiful place on earth, Knight's Action Park is a pretty cool place and it's not in the least bit crowded. Not to mention the Lincoln sites and all the other things that draw tens of thousands of people to the area each year. (But having lived in Chicago for many years and currently living in the Pacific Northwest, I've got to wonder if there isn't some mental health issues in the family. I can't think of any reason to leave here for a place like Oswego. The mere thought makes me chuckle.)

The question I have is this, I haven't read anything about luggage being packed, a hotel room, that sort of thing. Springfield is about 3.5 hours drive, maybe four, from Oswego. Playing all day at Knights would wear anybody out. Were they planning on driving back that night? Were there swim suits in the car? Towels? Anybody know anything?

[AutumnBorn]

I know someone going to Knights Action Park tomorrow, as a matter of fact. I personally have never been there, but it is a very small looking attraction, and there are lots of other choices within driving distance. That is suspicious thing number one.

First, my sympathy to the person you know going to Springfield tomorrow. I just got back today and all I can say is thank God I'm home. Anyway, Knights actually isn't small. There are lots of things to do there...Put Put, a driving range, the water park, go karts, batting cages, a ferris wheel (and a few other rides, I think), and those are just the things I can think of off the top of my head not having been there for eight years or so...plus there was the Sangamon County Fair going on, too.

[greeneyz]

I am confused...if someone in the area in Channahon heard shots around 10 pm...and the 911 call didn't happen until almost 5:30 am that would mean he was there for almost 7 and a half hours with the bodies...I read that her sister had spoken with her on Wednesday night, I wonder what time? Channahon is about 27 miles from Oswego, so that would mean they had only been on the road for about 30 minutes when this happened. Springfield is about a 3 or so hour trip...Why would they have left so early the night BEFORE if in fact the shots were heard at 10 p.m. they would have left home around 9:30 p.m. which would make no sense!
I found a link to the waterpark they were going to, it looks like a pretty good sized and popular place from the webpage: http://www.knightsactionpark.com/

I don't really find it odd they chose to go there...maybe they had been there before and liked it or had heard about it from someone...or just wanted to take a small trip with the children before thier own "honeymoon" this weekend. I wonder if anyone knew of thier plans for Thursday? I would assume if she talked to her sister on Wednsday night she would have mentioned it?

This case is so bizzare to me, none if it seems to make any sense! I can see running if shots were fired at me and I it was totally unexpected...if he had gotten out to fix the luggage on the luggage rack and out of the blue she shot at him I would think it would be instinct to run. I am very curious to hear more on what the forensics and ME reports show. What senseless tragedy!!!! :mad:

[Bobbisangel]

I can't imagine why anyone would wait 7 and a half hours to notify LE. There were two cell phones in the car. If he couldn't get any reception down where the car was we know he could have gotten reception up on the road as the people who did make the call had reception. So he was somewhere around where the people passing by saw him and saw the vehicle. What was he doing 7 and a half hours later...just walking around the area! The cops know that he only had one injury and it must not have been that bad or he would have been in the hospital. He was questioned and then let go. I think he gave himself a little flesh wound to go along with his story.

I can't figure out why they would have left at night either. I guess LE will check out the luggage if there was any. The family must have thought they were going to the water park. He had to have told them something. Maybe he suggested taking the kids to the water park and spending a night as they were going away for the weekend and it would apease the children about mom and dad being gone all weekend. He must have had everything planned out. There is no way to prove if the luggage rack had loosened as he will say that he tightened it.

I think this wife was just as innocent as Laci was as far as the husband goes. I wonder if he had met someone else? We will never know what went on behind closed doors and I've come to realize that what looks like the perfect couple or perfect family usually isn't. I notice the neighbors have a lot of nice things to say about the wife and children but hardly mention anything about the husband. Maybe he wasn't as friendly with the neighbors as she was. I don't believe for a second that she murdered her children and herself. I hope it can be proven if he is the killer.

[greeneyz]

I can't imagine why anyone would wait 7 and a half hours to notify LE. There were two cell phones in the car. If he couldn't get any reception down where the car was we know he could have gotten reception up on the road as the people who did make the call had reception. So he was somewhere around where the people passing by saw him and saw the vehicle. What was he doing 7 and a half hours later...just walking around the area! The cops know that he only had one injury and it must not have been that bad or he would have been in the hospital. He was questioned and then let go. I think he gave himself a little flesh wound to go along with his story.

That's why I want to know if anyone talked to them the previous night...to try and discount the neighbor in Channahon stating she heard shots at 10 p.m.
As far as the phones go, I'm not so sure I would want to go inside that van to get ANYTHING considering how horrific it had to have been (This is assuming she in fact was the shooter and he was in fact innocent) From the way the crime scene was descirbed he MAY Have been in shock and wandering...who knows???

I can't wait for the evidence to all be processed! I am on the fence but of course leaning towards him being guilty.

He was treated at the hospitol and released BobbiesAngel before he went in for questioning.

[fran]

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/103809C5AF9A59F7862572FD00106732?OpenDocument

Dead mom, kids had St. Charles roots

By Matthew Hathaway and Joel Currier
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
06/17/2007


Christopher Vaughn, the only survivor of a bizarre shooting that left his wife and three children dead in northern Illinois, grew up in St. Charles County and lived in the area before moving to suburban Chicago.

..................snip.......................

Police declined to say whether they think Kimberly Vaughn was murdered, the Chicago Tribune reported, raising the question of whether she wielded the handgun found in the vehicle

...............more at link...............

[fran]

http://dailysouthtown.com/news/430679,171NWS9.article



Investigators delve into Vaughn family

June 17, 2007
By Dan Rozek and Lisa Donovan Special to the Daily Southtown

Detectives investigating this week's shooting deaths of a mother and her three children in rural Will County want to know whether the family was experiencing financial difficulties.

There are two mortgages totaling $417,000 on the family's Oswego home, court records show.

Investigators cautioned they won't have a clearer picture of what happened until tests on forensic evidence are completed in the deaths of Kimberly Vaughn, 34, and her three children -- Abigayle 12, Cassandra, 11, and Blake, 8 -- who were found early Thursday in the family's sport utility vehicle off Interstate 55 near Channahon.

..............................more at link............................

[fran]

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/431677,6_1_NA17_VAUGHN_S1.article

'Does that even make sense?'
Friends, family say story surrounding gruesome shootings doesn't add up

June 17, 2007

By Rosalind Rossi and Mitch Dudek Staff Reporters
Kimberly Vaughn's mother just can't buy it.

Susan Phillips said Friday that it "made no sense" for her Oswego daughter to shoot and wound her husband, kill their three children and then kill herself inside the couple's sport-utility vehicle during an early-morning family trip to a Springfield water park.

"Does that even make sense?" Phillips said of the version of events authorities say the sole survivor - Phillips' son-in-law, Christopher Vaughn - gave police investigating the bizarre Thursday crime scene.

Friends of Abigayle Vaughn, 11, pause at a memorial set up for the girl, her siblings and her mother Friday at the Vaughn home in Oswego.
Craig Watson / Beacon News
"I don't believe it."

[fran]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/about/custom/chi-suvdeaths_16jun16,1,6482584.story?track=rss

Officials say killer was 1 of family
Cops examine ballistic evidence as they piece together slayings

By Hal Dardick and Jo Napolitano
Tribune staff reporters

Published June 16, 2007


Forensics, including analysis of gunpowder residue and bullet trajectories, could play a key role in determining how four members of the Vaughn family of Oswego died in their sport-utility vehicle in rural Will County, police said Friday.

Christopher Vaughn, 32, who walked away from the shootings with minor wounds, left Illinois State Police district headquarters at 1:40 a.m. Friday, saying he needed a rest after voluntarily talking with detectives for more than 12 hours, police said.

Police declined to call him a suspect in the deaths of his wife, Kimberly, 34, and their three children: Blake, 8, Cassandra, 11, and Abigayle, 12.

Officials did say no one outside the immediate family was involved. The children were shot multiple times, and sources confirmed that Kim Vaughn suffered a single gunshot wound to her head. Police also declined to say whether they believed Kim was murdered, raising the question of whether she wielded the handgun found in the vehicle.

"There is no way I would believe it was her," said Kim Vaughn's sister, Nikki Isemann. "There is no way she would have hurt her children."

She could not bear to see her children cry, and was so averse to them experiencing pain that she couldn't remove their splinters, Isemann said.

"When I talked to her, she was absolutely happy," her sister said, noting that she last spoke with Vaughn during a phone call at 8:55 p.m. Wednesday. "She was in great spirits, very excited about her future."

[fran]

IMHO, Christopher Vaughn may not be a suspect, per se; but they did NOT say whether or not he's a POI (person of interest).

IMHO, I believe LE needs to bring in some dogs in the vicinity of where the crime happened and look for anything relating to the case. After all, he had how many hours? to 'stage' the incident? That would include changing his clothes! Is there a stream close by where he could have washed his hands and arms and face? Have LE checked out the luggage for 'dirty clothes?'

I do NOT think LE is buying this story, just like many of us here aren't.

JMHO
fran

[2luvmy]

I live about 10 minutes from Knight's Action Park.

This would definately not be a place where a family with many other water park options would choose to come and visit. Knight's is more for the family that is here touring the Lincoln sites or has other business in Spfld. and wanted to hang out the park for some added fun in their trip. It is mostly families and teens from the immediate area or surrounding communities.

It is a decent little park, but by no means is it a huge water park at all. My kids go there for something to do in the summer. There's the water park, paddle boats, ferris wheel, go carts, driving range, miniature golf, picnicing areas, drive in movie theater and roller skating rink in the area.

What doesn't make sense to me is that the husband and wife has a romantic weekend planned with his/her parents coming to watch the children. So they run out to go the water park and then hurry to meet the grandparents to watch the children while they go to a bed and breakfast. Where was this B&B compared to the waterpark?

[Camper]

IF new readers of this thread that have not followed from the beginning, IF you will read the first 3 pages of this thread it will present ALL that WE know to page 7 here.

I believe this thread has been not seen because of the Iowa murders that include 3 victims in the thread title.

Waiting here on page 7, for more news from official sources.

.

[EZRA]

Just one observation from me for the person who said he could not get reception on the cell phones - wasn't he sitting underneath a cell phone tower?

[IdahoMom]

Police question father again:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-oswego_17jun17,1,2108934.story?coll=chi-newslocalchicago-hed




http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/thumbnails/photo/2007-06/30521913.jpg (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-070614vaughn1-photo,1,300273.photo?coll=chi-newslocalchicago-hed)

Kimberly Vaughn (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-070614vaughn1-photo,1,300273.photo?coll=chi-newslocalchicago-hed&?track=sto-relcon) (Handout photo)
June 14, 2007

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/thumbnails/photo/2007-06/30521915.jpg (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-070614vaughn2-photo,1,759026.photo?coll=chi-newslocalchicago-hed)
Abigayle Vaughn, 12 (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-070614vaughn2-photo,1,759026.photo?coll=chi-newslocalchicago-hed&?track=sto-relcon) (Handout photo)
June 14, 2007

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/thumbnails/photo/2007-06/30521920.jpg (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-070614vaughn3-photo,1,1217779.photo?coll=chi-newslocalchicago-hed)
Cassandra Vaughn, 11 (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-070614vaughn3-photo,1,1217779.photo?coll=chi-newslocalchicago-hed&?track=sto-relcon) (Handout photo)
June 14, 2007

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/thumbnails/photo/2007-06/30521978.jpg (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-070614vaughn4-photo,1,1676532.photo?coll=chi-newslocalchicago-hed)
Blake Vaughn, 8 (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-070614vaughn4-photo,1,1676532.photo?coll=chi-newslocalchicago-hed&?track=sto-relcon) (Handout photo)
June 14, 2007

snip

...Much of the investigation now revolves around forensics, including DNA analysis to help determine blood spatter patterns, and analysis of gunpowder residue and bullet trajectories, Dobrich said.

"We're very involved in it," he said, adding that at least 20 detectives are on the case. "It's a fluid situation. We are waiting for some forensic stuff to come back, and the sooner that happens the better."

Dobrich also said some of it is complicated and could take days to complete. "It's a long and tedious process, very meticulous," he said.

Detectives are talking to neighbors of the Vaughns in Oswego and former neighbors at an Aurora apartment complex where they lived for a short time, after moving to the area from Washington state and before buying their home in Oswego, Dobrich said.

In addition, detectives are talking to personnel at schools attended by the three children, and they have searched the family's home, after obtaining a search warrant to do so, as is routine in such cases, Dobrich said.

[nanandjim]

It will be interesting to see when this guy "lawyers up." He did it.

[IdahoMom]

:mad: I think so, too, Nan. :(

I'm thinking the kids were shot multiple times because they were trying to get away. :(

Happy Father's Day, Mr Vaughn!:mad:

[nanandjim]

I'm thinking the kids were shot multiple times because they were trying to get away. :(

I figured that they were in the back seat of the vehicle and could not run. I figure that he just wanted to make sure that they did not live to point the finger at him. He is pathetic. Sorry, I know that I am just speculating about this guy. However, I do not believe that this woman shot him one in the thigh. Yet, he could have grab the gun to overpower her.

Who knows what this guy had planned and for how long? He could have initially planned to murder her on their romantic getaway. Then, he figured that he could not raise three kids alone. So, he decided to kill them all.

[nanandjim]

:mad: I think so, too, Nan. :(

I'm thinking the kids were shot multiple times because they were trying to get away. :(

Happy Father's Day, Mr Vaughn!:mad:
Isn't it amazing? She seemed like such a wonderful wife and mother. I hope that justice will be served in this case. There is a special case in hell for the men who murder not only their wives but their own children, too.

David Camm, the ex-State Trooper from Indiana, murdered his wife and two kids. He was tried at least two times (first trial overturned). He is appealing his second conviction. I hope that it isn't overturned yet again.

This guy was a womanizer. His wife was the breadwinner in the family. There was suspicion that he had sexual improprieties with his young daughter, too. I hope that he dies in prison. That's the best that he deserves.

[IdahoMom]

Nan,
I added some snipped info to my link above. It sounds like this is a pretty complex investigation. The thing that concerns me is that given Mr Vaughn's line of work, I think he would be able to cover his tracks pretty well...especially where computers, etc are concerned.

To me, the big question to ask him is: what were you doing between the time your family was murdered and the time you were found?

[IdahoMom]

Isn't it amazing? She seemed like such a wonderful wife and mother. I hope that justice will be served in this case. There is a special case in hell for the men who murder not only their wives but their own children, too.

David Camm, the ex-State Trooper from Indiana, murdered his wife and two kids. He was tried at least two times (first trial overturned). He is appealing his second conviction. I hope that it isn't overturned yet again.

This guy was a womanizer. His wife was the breadwinner in the family. There was suspicion that he had sexual improprieties with his young daughter, too. I hope that he dies in prison. That's the best that he deserves.

This case makes me very sad. They all do, but this one is really bothering me. I need to read about David Camm. Hopefully, his fellow inmates will take care of him!

[nanandjim]

...To me, the big question to ask him is: what were you doing between the time your family was murdered and the time you were found?
Yes, hopefully, the ME can narrow down their time of death from stomach contents.

I think that this crime was probably well planned. I just don't believe that she shot at his thigh. I guess that he can say that they wrestled with the gun and that's where the shot landed. :rolleyes:

I can't help but think that if she suddenly went off the deep end while he was fastening the luggage rack that she would have shot him in the chest or head.

Of course, I just do not buy the story. I feel certain that LE doesn't either.

[calidreamin]

Hi everyone, this case has really bothered me too. I think it is because not only do I believe this guy killed his wife and children but to blame the kids murder on their mom is such a low blow :furious: . I am really worried that with his line of work he might have covered his tracks well.

[Amraann]

I don't see how he could cover his tracks...
If she shot that gun as many times as reported then their will be a lot of gun residue on her hands.

There is no way he could mimic that without holding her hand as he fired everyshot and I think that would leave some residue on him.

[calidreamin]

I know what you mean about the gun residue Amraan and that is a very good point. Does anyone know if gun residue can be washed off easily or not?

[Amraann]

I know what you mean about the gun residue Amraan and that is a very good point. Does anyone know if gun residue can be washed off easily or not?


I don't know why I think this.... but... I think it is not.
Maybe something I read somewhere.. But I don't think it does..

[southcitymom]

I don't see how he could cover his tracks...
If she shot that gun as many times as reported then their will be a lot of gun residue on her hands.

There is no way he could mimic that without holding her hand as he fired everyshot and I think that would leave some residue on him.

I agree with this. My understanding is that gun residue is NOT easily removed. The wife would have it all over her if she fired those shots.

I have also been giving more thought to the idea of a suicide pact that went wrong. There are just too many unanswered questions to really make a call yet. I still lean towards the husband's story as being the truth, but there is so much we just don't know yet.

[meowy]

This has "future Law and Order episode" written all over it.

[curves]

I thought gun residue is undetectable within about 4 hours? I could be wrong but there was a case in New Zealand - the Bain family murders and one of the problems with saying whether the son or father did it was that they didn't test the son's hands (the only surviving member) or the fathers hands for gun residue straight away and then it was too late. Maybe that explains the delay and why he didn't call the police as soon as he could?

[twinkiesmom]

I don't know if the water park in Springfield is crappy or not, but it's really doubtful you would go all the way down there on a day trip with no accomodations reserved, and no arrangements made to take care of the dogs (as far as we know).

[nanandjim]

I don't see how he could cover his tracks...
If she shot that gun as many times as reported then their will be a lot of gun residue on her hands.

There is no way he could mimic that without holding her hand as he fired everyshot and I think that would leave some residue on him.
You bring up something very interesting. Perhaps, the children were first shot by him and then he used his dead wife's hand to shoot them again in order for her hand to have gun residue on it.

I believe that he could have washed his hands thereby eliminating gun residue on his hands.

[soobs]

This whole scenario is not passing the smell test. Great point about gun residue Curves. I was also thinking how his background would help him cover up a crime IF he did it. And it looks suspicious that he pulled a SP, setting up a romantic weekend to look like the perfect husband, similar to SP leaving lovey dovey messages on Laci's answering machine. Why not just run off to Mexico and leave the kids alone. Gotta sob here, too sad.

My next question is, was she unstable? Were things crumbling and she couldn't bear to see her children suffer? Make him suffer instead? Lots of unanswered questions.

JMHO

[soobs]

He could have used gloves, right?

[soobs]

Maybe it took him "hours" to get up the nerve to shot himself!

JMHO

[southcitymom]

Even if the residue issue could be covered up, I can't imagine that HIS bullet wound could be staged to seem that she shot him when he really shot himself.

From what I've read - he was coming back around to get into the driver's seat when he says she shot him from her passenger-sde side...I can't think of a way he could shoot himself in such a manner that would replicate this.

[fran]

I don't think we're going to hear about the 'results' of this investigation overnight. IMHO, because of the amount of forensics involved, plus the additonal info needed, the background info (ie their life and financials, etc), it's going to be a couple of weeks before the results are in. Even then it could be merky, imo.

It seems simple as whatever happened that night, it happened within a 60 second period, imho. Once the 'shooting' began, it had to have taken place quickly, or someone else would have been able to get away, just like the husband managed to.

I stick by my 'gut instinct' in that I don't think it was the wife. I believe this was a premeditated act on behalf of the husband. I could be wrong and IF proven such, I'll be the first to admit it. But,.............I don't think so.

What makes me believe that? The husband took waayyy too long to report the incident. IF it had happened as he said, he would have either tried to save the kids, unless he's a complete COWARD (which I feel he is because I believe he killed his defenseless family) and he would have summoned help hours earlier than he did.

IF he did it, imho, he took that time to stage the scene to make his WIFE look like the perp. He may even succeed at that endeavor too. About the only evidence, within the vehicle that could be looked at under a microscope is the gun residue and the tragectory of the bulletts.

If done in a certain way, it COULD look as if the wife is the one who discharged all the bulletts. Say she was sitting there with her window down and the husband comes up behind her, kills her first, leans over her, shoots the kids, bam, bam, bam, bam, bam, bam,.............all of the shots would appear to come from the wife's sitting position. Then all he'd need to do is use her dead hand to fire off the shot that struck him in the thigh. IF the LE handling the case misses anything, it COULD look as if she did it.

The study of the gun residue is merky at best. I've been reading up on it and if LE didn't handle this with the utmost of care, this case will end with the wife coming in as the guilty party. I pray that while LE is looking into the gun residue on the wife's hands and clothing, they also take into account the # of times the gun was fired, do SEVERAL test runs with a technician, and see just HOW MUCH RESIDUE is on the tech's hands after dispensing the gun that many times. THAT might be a detail not taken into consideration, should the husband turn out to be the perp.

But.....................fwiw, and IF it was the husband who did this, he may not have done all of his homework, and let's hope that's the case here. You see, if it happened as he said, he would have been sitting in the driver's seat as she shot at him, or he was rolling out of the car to get away from her. Well, the gun residue doesn't just appear on the perp and their clothing, it also appears splattered out in the direction of the shot as well; which would mean gun residue coming towards the driver's side, maybe on the door, the driver's seat, and the steering wheel as well as the steering column, must be present and coming from the proper direction.

There's also the sticky little thing called finger prints. Not just prints on the handle of the gun, but the bulletts, the casings, the trigger. Because of the multiple of shots fired, I'm assuming this HAD to have been an automatic, which, IF I'm not mistaken, takes a mechanism that you pull back to begin firing. Face it, if her prints or palm print aren't on that and there are NO prints on it, the gun was 'wiped.'

I still say IF the husband did this, he had plenty of time to wash himself off and change his clothes. IF he changed his clothes, I hope LE checked his luggage and IF nothing found there, they have search dogs go into that area and LOOK for his clothes he MAY have been wearing when the crime occurred.

Like they say, 'the devil is in the details.'

JMHO
fran

[JanetElaine]

Great post, Fran!

[becklynn]

It keeps sticking in my mind that the drivers door was open and the back passenger door was open. He may have gotten out, went around and come up from behind, open the door to where the kids were and shoot everyone from there. Or the rear passenger door may have been opened by someone checking on the welfare of the family after the shooting.

[greeneyz]

I keep thinking about this case trying to figure the "whys" and the "hows". Has it been proven yet as to what time they left home? I know I have read a neighbor saw thier SUV in the driveway at 3 a.m. and it was also reported that someone in Channahon heard gunshots at 10 p.m. and I have also read 2:30 a.m. So we really have no solid facts just media reports with timelines that aren't matching. I have gone as far as to wonder if they were in fact shot in Channahon or somewhere else then he drove the van to that area...until the timelines make sense to me I am really on the fence on this. When all the test results comeback from forensics and the ME I think it will be much clearer as to what really happened in that vehicle. Also we don't know if the family had mentioned thier plans to the friends they had over to dinner or if the mother had mentioned thier plans to her sister? I haven't seen it mentioned one way or the other. Or have I missed something??? What a sad story, I feel for both families, I can't even imagine how confused and hurt they must feel at this time.

[i.b.nora]

Where the SUV was Found (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=%22Channahon,+Il%22&ie=UTF8&ll=41.432733,-88.196123&spn=0.001605,0.003063&t=k&z=18&om=0)

This is an aerial shot of the cell tower where the SUV was parked.
You can change the view to get a better idea of the nearby houses, roads, etc.
His story is very suspect, imo.

[hollyjokers]

To me, the big question to ask him is: what were you doing between the time your family was murdered and the time you were found?

Another would be when was this trip to the waterpark planned. Kimberly spoke to her sister at 8:55pm & she did not mention anything about it. Her mother who knew about the weekend getaway did not know, nor did the Camp Invention staff (Cassandra was named Camper of the Day on Wednesday).

So reminiscent of a certain solo fishing trip...:waitasec:

[Cubby]

Another would be when was this trip to the waterpark planned. Kimberly spoke to her sister at 8:55pm & she did not mention anything about it. Her mother who knew about the weekend getaway did not know, nor did the Camp Invention staff (Cassandra was named Camper of the Day on Wednesday).

So reminiscent of a certain solo fishing trip...:waitasec:


Could have been "spontaneous" , did they frequent water parks? Maybe they already hit the Dells (water park capital) and other local water parks so they decided on visiting the one in Springfield. Did they take spontaneous short trips? Questions my moms SO brought up when we were discussing this...... he's a very long since retired Chief of Police from Sandwich IL.

[Camper]

Thinking that a second honeymoon on the weekend that included Fathers Day was maybe sort of not a nice gesture for the dad. Most likely the couple would have been back sometime on Fathers Day, but. Hmmm.

Wonder what day their wedding anniversary fell on, OR would have fallen on?

We must have a public record sleuth reading that can dig that up maybe, huh?

.

[fran]

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/431507,2_1_AU17_SLAYINGS_S2.article

Experts say Vaughn slayings don't fit profile

June 17, 2007
By ANDRE SALLES Staff Writer

Two national experts on mothers who kill their children say the case of Kimberly Vaughn of Oswego does not fit the usual profile.

Cheryl Meyer, an associate professor at Wright State University's School of Professional Psychology in Dayton, Ohio, and Michelle Oberman, a professor of law at Santa Clara University in California (and formerly of Chicago's DePaul University), co-authored the book Mothers Who Kill Their Children in 2001. Together, they have researched thousands of cases of filicide -- parents killing their children -- and they are often contacted for their expertise.

And when asked separately, each had similar questions about the early Thursday incident, in which Vaughn and her three children were found dead in the family's SUV, parked off the side of the road near Interstate 55. The children -- Abigayle, 12, Cassandra, 11, and Blake, 8 -- were shot multiple times, while Vaughn herself was shot once in the head, police said.

..............................snip................ ................

Meyer said that stories of a mother's troubled life will usually surface immediately after a tragedy of this sort -- and that has not happened yet in the Vaughn case. Neighbors and friends describe the Vaughns as "a great family." The couple planned to visit Missouri this weekend to celebrate their 13th wedding anniversary.

These inconsistencies led Meyer to express her doubts -- she said that the story does not fit "99 percent of the cases I've seen."

"I've seen thousands of these," she said. "Once you start reading, they start quickly looking alike. I can tell within three sentences which category they fit into. This just doesn't fit anything."


more at link.........

[fran]

In response to the above news article where this story doesn't fit,.........I AGREE!!

It doesn't fit a woman who's unhappy. She'd just gotten a DEGREE! for crying out loud. Why would she kill her entire family?!

No way Jose!

IMHO, they may have been heavily in debt. I know that hasn't come out yet, but I'm tellin' ya, that's it. The husband probably was hiding it from the wife.

Their mortgage was with a subprime lender,(you don't have to verify your income), they got a FULL PRICE mortgage. They just got their new TAX BILL. She was attending Phoenix Online. Do you know how expensive that is?

The wife was outgoing, the husband was quiet. The husband was adoring and he also went out of town a lot. He operated his business out of his home.
It seems everyone knew her well, but he, being quiet, probably wasn't as well known by the neighbors.

Something is NOT right here, IMHO. I'm not worried though, LE will figure it out. I hope!

JMHO
fran

[greeneyz]

Don't know if this has been posted yet...so sad for the children that were thier friends :(

"Behind the home of the Oswego mother and her three children who were found shot to death Thursday morning, three neighborhood kids tried to drown the somber mood with squeals and giggles.
But in between games with the water hose on a sunny Friday morning, they paused to wonder why anyone would want to harm the nice children who played in the adjacent back yard."

More here: http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/431501,2_1_AU17_SLAYINGS_S1.article

[SeriouslySearching]

Maybe Daddy was on the "down low" so to speak. All the talk about having another woman..maybe it wasn't another woman, but a man?

I believe it is quite telling he didn't call his parents and they found out about their grandchildren's deaths via a reporter (Horrible!!). He would have called his mother as soon as possible, I would think. Most people experiencing such a loss or trauma don't hesitate to want their mother for comfort...unless they can't face their mother for some reason.

I can't believe LE doesn't have some knowledge of where this guy is now. Are they inept?! You don't allow a person that walked away from 4 murders almost unharmed to just 'take off' without tailing them in some way. I don't see the police thinking this guy is innocent...but they don't have enough right now to charge him. They need the forensics to back them up and should have that info soon. They better have kept tabs on him or their fallout is going to be rough!

This case is so disturbing. It is difficult for me to follow. Parents who kill their children are so out of my realm of understanding. It would never enter my mind to harm my children for ANY reason. How could they?! Didn't they see the unconditional love and adoration in the eyes of their child before slaughtering them? Are there people who are so evil, cold, and disconnected with reality they are just not human anymore?! I guess there are. Sorry..had to vent on this one. Makes me ill as a parent and a grandparent.

[Jaded]

I don't see how he could cover his tracks...
If she shot that gun as many times as reported then their will be a lot of gun residue on her hands.

There is no way he could mimic that without holding her hand as he fired everyshot and I think that would leave some residue on him.

If the children were shot multiple times and the wife once in the head - how many rounds does a handgun contain, and if she were in the front seat she would have to physically twist around in the seat to start firing shots. I'm wondering were the windows rolled down on the vehicle? Is it possible that dad shot into the vehicle from the side? I just don't see how the mom could have twisted around like that without having kids trying like hell to get out of the vehicle after the first shots were fired.

[txsvicki]

I know what you mean about the gun residue Amraan and that is a very good point. Does anyone know if gun residue can be washed off easily or not?


Someone on Court tv was talking about the Phil Specter murder trial and said that the residue could be washed off.

[ziggy]

Depends on the gun. I once had a 9mm with a 15 round magazine. I can't imagine most suburban housewives would be familiar with how to use a semi automatic. It was a bit intimidating for me and I grew up with guns. She would have to know how to unlock the safety and load a round into the chamber. Seems unlikely. That would take planning and the husband is trying to make it sound like she just snapped. It's a very unbelievable story and I'm so, so, sad looking at the pictures of those dear kids.

[Jaded]

Depends on the gun. I once had a 9mm with a 15 round magazine. I can't imagine most suburban housewives would be familiar with how to use a semi automatic. It was a bit intimidating for me and I grew up with guns. She would have to know how to unlock the safety and load a round into the chamber. Seems unlikely. That would take planning and the husband is trying to make it sound like she just snapped. It's a very unbelievable story and I'm so, so, sad looking at the pictures of those dear kids.

She was also laying over towards the driver's seat from the aerial view. Wonder if she was left-handed or right-handed. Wouldn't that make a difference which way her body fell if she indeed shot herself?

[SadieMae]

Maybe Daddy was on the "down low" so to speak. All the talk about having another woman..maybe it wasn't another woman, but a man?

I believe it is quite telling he didn't call his parents and they found out about their grandchildren's deaths via a reporter (Horrible!!). He would have called his mother as soon as possible, I would think. Most people experiencing such a loss or trauma don't hesitate to want their mother for comfort...unless they can't face their mother for some reason.

I can't believe LE doesn't have some knowledge of where this guy is now. Are they inept?! You don't allow a person that walked away from 4 murders almost unharmed to just 'take off' without tailing them in some way. I don't see the police thinking this guy is innocent...but they don't have enough right now to charge him. They need the forensics to back them up and should have that info soon. They better have kept tabs on him or their fallout is going to be rough!

This case is so disturbing. It is difficult for me to follow. Parents who kill their children are so out of my realm of understanding. It would never enter my mind to harm my children for ANY reason. How could they?! Didn't they see the unconditional love and adoration in the eyes of their child before slaughtering them? Are there people who are so evil, cold, and disconnected with reality they are just not human anymore?! I guess there are. Sorry..had to vent on this one. Makes me ill as a parent and a grandparent.
I totally understand what you are saying. Not just how could parents kill a child, but any adult. Sadly, yes there are evil, cold people in this world. I can't for the life of me figure out how this happens!?! There is a killer in all of us...to protect my children, I could and would kill. I can't even harm an animal, let alone another human being for any other reason. The husbands whole story is BS...JMO.

[Camper]

Great observations in these last two pages. My husband was firearms expert and dealer in our sporting goods store. Loaded shells for hunting with our three sons etc. IF IF the wife did this which, imop, SHE DID NOT DO IT, she would have shot herself last. IF IF THAT be so, the recoil from that one shot would have pitched the gun in some measurable calculatible direction. That said, I am wondering where the gun was found, or better said, where in the car was the gun when LE came?

This 'father' is most likely quite an actor. IF he was hiding money problems he has has substantial experience in avoiding telling the truth, same with IF IF he has a boyfriend er whatever.

Strange, strange, the MOTIVE will tell us the rest of this story.

Indeed a mom who worked hard to attain a degree is not going to toss it, and kill her children AND herself either.

[SewingDeb]

Seriously Searching...the husband turned up and his parents have been with him at a motel. He just "couldn't go home".

Also:

Police question father again
Probe of 4 deaths hinges on forensics

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-oswego_17jun17,1,2108934.story?coll=chi-newslocalchicago-hed

[SewingDeb]

Bobbisangel,

I have not read anywhere but here that there were two cell phones in the vehicle. Do you remember where you read that by and chance?

[southcitymom]

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/431507,2_1_AU17_SLAYINGS_S2.article



That's a great article. I would have loved it if these experts or others would speak out about cases where fathers kill their families - to see what fits and doesn't fit in this scenario vs. the most common cases when fathers do this.

[SewingDeb]

Someone on Court tv was talking about the Phil Specter murder trial and said that the residue could be washed off.

That's what we heard during the Scott Peterson case...it is easily washed off with soap and water. Clothing would be a different matter but could he have washed off and changed clothes (and hidden them) during the time before the passerby came to the rescue?

[Dena]

I was just watching an episode of Forensic Files and they talked about the gun residue in the placement of clothing. They can determine by that as well. If she had long sleeves on, the gun residue would be in different places depending on if she shot herself or he shot her.

[fran]

That's a great article. I would have loved it if these experts or others would speak out about cases where fathers kill their families - to see what fits and doesn't fit in this scenario vs. the most common cases when fathers do this.

Before they can discuss this case in regards to why husbands kill their families, they have to find out their financial situation and a few more things. I still feel there's a fianacial motive here. Just a 'gut feeling.'

I liked that article too. I think these two 'experts' are right on!

JMHO
fran

[fran]

That's what we heard during the Scott Peterson case...it is easily washed off with soap and water. Clothing would be a different matter but could he have washed off and changed clothes (and hidden them) during the time before the passerby came to the rescue?


That's why I'm saying they need to take dogs out in that area and look for his clothing. IMO, he may have changed clothes and buried them.

JMHO
fran

[southcitymom]

Before they can discuss this case in regards to why husbands kill their families, they have to find out their financial situation and a few more things. I still feel there's a fianacial motive here. Just a 'gut feeling.'

I liked that article too. I think these two 'experts' are right on!

JMHO
fran

I agree that there is probably a financial or sexual motive....maybe both. Since he owned his own company, there may have been a situation where his business is not doing well at all and his wife didn't know about and he's spiraling down secretly into the abyss.

It's still just so insane - regardless of which parent it was - it's hard to wrap my mind around it.

If it's him - how are you a seemingly loving father and husband for many years and then turn so calculating? If it's him - it was cold-blooded and not a crime of passion. Just nuts. I am fascinated to find out what was going on beneath the surface.

Also, I agree with other posts that the forensic investigation will be slow and methodical - as it should be. As much as I want that information NOW - I want it to be very exact and I know that takes time.

[Camper]

Welll here is a link IF IF you like to read a comprehensive study of this case so far by an intensive blogger. Then following it there are 308 responses with opinions.

http://crimeblog.us/archives/473

---------

I am wondering one of the links I read this morning said that LE had counselors AT THE SCENE it was so horrendous, many of course have children around the same ages. LE has to see a lot of horrible nightmare things in their work.

MY question, would you not think that a husband would be sooooo distraught that LE would not be doing their duty IF IF they did not find a counselor to sit and be with THE HUSBAND? Just turn a man loose that has lost his entire family??

I do believe there is strong method behind LE NOT getting, (as far as we or I know anyway) the man some emotional help OR OR even calling the mans MOM AND DAD OR A GOOD FRIEND, MINISTER OR SOMEONE for HIM? Hmmm.

.

[SewingDeb]

That's why I'm saying they need to take dogs out in that area and look for his clothing. IMO, he may have changed clothes and buried them.

JMHO
fran


Yes...he had enough time to do a lot of things.

[SewingDeb]

I was just watching an episode of Forensic Files and they talked about the gun residue in the placement of clothing. They can determine by that as well. If she had long sleeves on, the gun residue would be in different places depending on if she shot herself or he shot her.

Good. If he did it, maybe he didn't think about that. Maybe he only thought of his own hands and clothing.

[kinsey milhoune]

I live just downhill of where this happened! If you are not familiar with this area and you wanted to adjust a luggage rack, you probably would have gotten off at the exit before the one they did. The exit before is well lighted, it has a Mc Donalds & gas station on each side of exit & is well lit at all hours. On the other hand, the exit he got off at is a small, dark exit with no towns listed for this exit, it's just an exit # and hardly a place to get off with family at that hour. That is very puzzling about this whole thing.

[pamlet]

At first I thought just MAYBE his excuse seemed plausible - until I could see where they pulled off in relation to the exit... from the google map link on the CrimeBlog site. To me it's strange that he would have gone on further on the frontage road.

The one thing that did stand out to me though was in a SunTimes article linked on CrimeBlog it says a neighbor saw the SUV in the drive in Oswego at 3am ... so the varying 10pm shots .. and in some places 2:30 shots don't sound so plausible.

It sure will be interesting to hear time of death ... and see how it turns out..

[southcitymom]

If he did indeed do this, how the heck did he get his family into the car at that time of night/morning?

[philamena]

If he did indeed do this, how the heck did he get his family into the car at that time of night/morning?

IMO, He lied to them. He made up some story, most likely the water park one, and they went along with it. The kids had to go along with mom and dad. The mom most likely had no idea anything was amiss. Just like SP had Laci fooled.

[southcitymom]

IMO, He lied to them. He made up some story, most likely the water park one, and they went along with it. The kids had to go along with mom and dad. The mom most likely had no idea anything was amiss. Just like SP had Laci fooled.

I could understand that if not for the time - we're driving to a waterpark at 4 a.m.? How does that make sense to the Mom or the kids?

[SailorMoon]

I could understand that if not for the time - we're driving to a waterpark at 4 a.m.? How does that make sense to the Mom or the kids?

It doesn't make a bit of sense to me. Not at all. Granted, all people are different. But I don't think his story is true. I hope the waterpark story makes as much sense to LE as it does to us.

[2luvmy]

Here's a link to the picture of the wife in the front seat.

http://media1.suntimes.com/nixoncds/image/car-graphic.jpg_20070614_20_10_22_1319-289-400.imageContent

The picture shows the wife slumped over to her left. I enlarged the picture to see if I could see anything in her right hand. I did not. Looks like there might be something in the left hand. My question is, if the wife did shoot the gun with her left hand, would the force not have her ending up leaning onto the door/right side?

[pamlet]

I don't see anything in the left hand - in fact it looks like there's some sort of fabric across her left leg and partially over the left forearm ...

If anything it looks like something in the right hand ... maybe ... her fingers look curved around and the hand appears to be partially on the fabric on her lap.

[luthersmama]

Here's a link to the picture of the wife in the front seat.

http://media1.suntimes.com/nixoncds/image/car-graphic.jpg_20070614_20_10_22_1319-289-400.imageContent

The picture shows the wife slumped over to her left. I enlarged the picture to see if I could see anything in her right hand. I did not. Looks like there might be something in the left hand. My question is, if the wife did shoot the gun with her left hand, would the force not have her ending up leaning onto the door/right side?

It is a common misconception that the "force" of a gunshot will move the victim backwards. This is how it is portrayed on TV, but in reality the person just plops whichever way gravity takes them. Straight down toward the ground.

Remember the case, years ago, about the guy who was accused of shooting his wife in the head while having "doggy style" sex with her? There was a book about it, in which the author explained at great length the physics of a gunshot. The guy's conviction was overturned on appeal because the prosecution's theory of how she ended up in the position she was found made no sense when the true physics of firearms were analyzed.

[Camper]

Here's a link to the picture of the wife in the front seat.

http://media1.suntimes.com/nixoncds/image/car-graphic.jpg_20070614_20_10_22_1319-289-400.imageContent

The picture shows the wife slumped over to her left. I enlarged the picture to see if I could see anything in her right hand. I did not. Looks like there might be something in the left hand. My question is, if the wife did shoot the gun with her left hand, would the force not have her ending up leaning onto the door/right side?




--->>>We don't know what calibre gun was used yet. A heavier calibre will have a greater recoil action, like a 45 calibre. IF IF it had been a rifle, the recoil would jolt a person of small stature backwards, but of course slim chance anyone would commit suicide in a passenger car with a rifle.
The recoil from a heavier calbre pistol would make a difference most likely in where the gun would end up. Where she would have ended up physically in such small quarters would make some difference, but not enough to really force her heavily one way or another.

You guys are better than I - I cannot see anything except something that looks like an arm going straight up toward the top of the seat on the left side as we look at the picture. Still no media reports, so quiet from Illinois. Wonder what his parents are thinking about now? Crazy crime.

.

[Lanie]

Everytime I read something about this, it just breaks my heart. Those poor children.
If the mom did it, why? The only thing I can think of that would fit a mother killing her children and then herself is deep despair. That is something that would be hard to hide for any length of time, and it seems highly improbable to me someone in that state of mind would be ok just sticking a gun in her pocket and waiting indefinitely for the right moment to come along. It is also hard for me to buy into this being her master plan since she wasn't driving the car.
There have been contradictory times given for the shots fired, and the van being seen in the driveway at home. It shouldn't be hard for LE to determine TOD, so that will tell how long between the act and it being reported.
I keep thinking about those poor kids, it just blows me away someone could do something like this, and I hope whoever it is pays for it.

[fran]

http://www.nbc5.com/news/13524661/detail.html?rss=chi&psp=news

Christopher Vaughn Spends Father's Day With Police

Slain Mother's Sister: Kim Would Never Hurt Children

POSTED: 5:37 pm CDT June 18, 2007
UPDATED: 5:45 pm CDT June 18, 2007


OSWEGO, Ill. -- After his wife and three children were mysteriously shot to death in the family's SUV -- and he himself shot in the thigh -- NBC 5 has learned that Chris Vaughn spent most of Father's Day being interviewed by state police.

...................cut................

Chris Vaughn was interviewed for 10 hours and released Friday morning, only to return both Saturday and Sunday for more questioning on how his wife and three children died of bullet wounds in their SUV.

[fran]

hmmmmmmm.............

I think LE is questioning that STORY of Mr. Vaughn's.;)

JMHO
fran

[luthersmama]

I came to this story kind of late, so forgive me if I'm asking something that has already been answered:

Is there any news as to whether the kids and wife had been drugged? I just can't imagine all of that shooting and nobody getting out of the car, even if just to fall to the ground outside.

Also, that's a damn stupid spot to fix your luggage. The brush is so close on either side it would be hard to get up on the running boards to reach the thing.

[Camper]

I came to this story kind of late, so forgive me if I'm asking something that has already been answered:

Is there any news as to whether the kids and wife had been drugged? I just can't imagine all of that shooting and nobody getting out of the car, even if just to fall to the ground outside.

Also, that's a damn stupid spot to fix your luggage. The brush is so close on either side it would be hard to get up on the running boards to reach the thing.




--->>>I had brought that up about page 5 or so. I thought that IF IF he had any compassion or love for his children that he might have used GHB the date rape drug, so that the last thing the children would not know would be that their own father had killed them.

There has been no new news on this thread since about page 5, IF you read all of the links they cover the same stuff. So we are all still waiting for FRESH information on forensics. A tracking dog I hope would uncover any buried items he might have disposed of in the area. I am even wondering about whether the report that he had been to Mexico recently, might have been a pre trip to plan things out near the Cell Tower.

He could have packed extra clothing to put on AFTER he used the gun, and stashed the clothes near the Cell Tower for putting ON after the murders.



If the mother killed her own childrn, I will be greatly surprised.

We learned through the SP case that GHB is not disernable upon autopsy, IF I remember correctly.

.

[luthersmama]

I find his career path to be odd. They met in St. Louis where they both grew up. Then, to "launch his business" they moved to Washington state. Then to Illinois. WTF? Why does someone in his line of work need to be anyplace in particular?

Sounds like he was just keeping her and the kids away from her family.:croc:

[luthersmama]

And ANOTHER thing (sorry, seems I just got obsessed)

I think the shootings happened somewhere else - not at that celltower site. It will be interesting to see what the estimated TOD is. He might have shot them all in the garage before they even left their house, then he drove randomly trying to figure out what to do next.

[WholeLottaRosie]

I live about 10 minutes from Knight's Action Park.

This would definately not be a place where a family with many other water park options would choose to come and visit. Knight's is more for the family that is here touring the Lincoln sites or has other business in Spfld. and wanted to hang out the park for some added fun in their trip. It is mostly families and teens from the immediate area or surrounding communities.

It is a decent little park, but by no means is it a huge water park at all. My kids go there for something to do in the summer. There's the water park, paddle boats, ferris wheel, go carts, driving range, miniature golf, picnicing areas, drive in movie theater and roller skating rink in the area.

What doesn't make sense to me is that the husband and wife has a romantic weekend planned with his/her parents coming to watch the children. So they run out to go the water park and then hurry to meet the grandparents to watch the children while they go to a bed and breakfast. Where was this B&B compared to the waterpark?

Springfield is about 2 hours from St Louis, maybe a little less -I don't go to the far edge like they would be doing if their parents live in St Charles so not positive on exact time. Makes perfect sense to drive to Springfield,spend the day and then drive on to his parents. Maybe stay their that night and head to Hermann next morning -that is about an hour or so from St Charles, depending on traffic. It might be an hour an half. So this really does make a certain amount of sense. Then again maybe Springfield had some meaning to them. Springfield is actually a very lovely place.

[AutumnBorn]

I find his career path to be odd. They met in St. Louis where they both grew up. Then, to "launch his business" they moved to Washington state. Then to Illinois. WTF? Why does someone in his line of work need to be anyplace in particular?

Sounds like he was just keeping her and the kids away from her family.:croc:

Unless he worked for Boeing or consulted with them, I can't make any sense of their leaving paradise to go to Illinois.

[Lanie]

Springfield is about 2 hours from St Louis, maybe a little less -I don't go to the far edge like they would be doing if their parents live in St Charles so not positive on exact time. Makes perfect sense to drive to Springfield,spend the day and then drive on to his parents. Maybe stay their that night and head to Hermann next morning -that is about an hour or so from St Charles, depending on traffic. It might be an hour an half. So this really does make a certain amount of sense. Then again maybe Springfield had some meaning to them. Springfield is actually a very lovely place.


It was my understanding from reading the articles that the grandmother and the aunt were coming to the Vaughns house to stay with the kids while the parents were off for the weekend.

[teedie2]

Unless he worked for Boeing or consulted with them, I can't make any sense of their leaving paradise to go to Illinois.

He had a job with Navigant Consulting. Don't know if that is why they moved, or if he got the job after they moved.

I recall one article saying that he had merged his business (Stonebridge) with a company in Il, but that isn't exactly what happened, apparently. He still has Stonebridge as a "side job."

http://www.nbc5.com/news/13524661/detail.html?rss=chi&psp=news

Wonder if he commuted to Chicago? It's appr 45 miles from Oswego to Chi. Maybe he is/was? a "field" guy for them and was sent out to various client businesses.

[greeneyz]

Has there been anything in the news as to what doors were open on the SUV when police arrived? In the picture of her slumped in the passenger seat the drivers door and a rear door can be seen to be open...I am just curious as to what ones if any were open?

[philamena]

I could understand that if not for the time - we're driving to a waterpark at 4 a.m.? How does that make sense to the Mom or the kids?

Perhaps he told them they'd eat breakfast somewhere and then be the first ones to enter the park.

[philamena]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-web_vaughnjun19,1,7402317.story?coll=chi-news-hed

Man whose family was slain is questioned 3rd time


June 18, 2007, 9:03 PM CDT

A man who survived the shootings last week that left his wife and three young children dead near Interstate Highway 55 in rural Will County, over the weekend voluntarily submitted to a third round of police questioning, authorities said.

"He remains cooperative with the investigation," said Trooper Mark Dorencz, a spokesman at Illinois State Police District 5 headquarters.

SNIPPET

Much of the investigation, police said, now revolves around forensics, including DNA analysis to help determine blood-spatter patterns and analysis of gunpowder residue and bullet trajectories.

Police have declined to call Christopher Vaughn, who was questioned Sunday, a suspect, nor have they said whether they believe his wife was slain.

[Bobbisangel]

Bobbisangel,

I have not read anywhere but here that there were two cell phones in the vehicle. Do you remember where you read that by and chance?

Somewhere on here in one of the news articles. I'll see if I can find it. It could be wrong though....you know how often the papers get things wrong.

[Bobbisangel]

Bobbisangel,

I have not read anywhere but here that there were two cell phones in the vehicle. Do you remember where you read that by and chance?



Here is what I have found so far. Another article said how many phones were found.


Top NewsSave | E-mail | Print
Jun 15, 2007 10:13 pm US/Central

Report: Man Says Wife Fired Shots Killing Family
Neighbors, Family Say Christopher Vaughn Is Nowhere To Be Found
(CBS) CHANNAHON, Ill. Investigators have not told the public whom they suspect of shooting a mother and her three young children in Channahon yesterday morning.

They do say they have no grounds to charge anybody at this point, though that could change at any time. However, the only survivor of the killings was released from police custody Thursday morning and his location is unknown.

Thursday, the CBS 2 Investigators learned that cell phones were found in the SUV where Kimberly Vaughn and her three children were found.

Police are investigating why her husband, Christopher, apparently did not use a phone to call 911 for help. Instead, a passerby made the call when they found Vaughn wounded near the vehicle.

[Bobbisangel]

It seems that it would be easy to prove who did the shooting wouldn't it? If she was sitting in the front seat and shot the children in the back seat it would be different then if he was sitting in the driver's seat or standing outside the car. I think if the wife was doing the shooting and she decided to shot her husband she wouldn't have shot him in the leg. She would have aimed for his head or chest not clear in the leg or where ever she hit him. She would have wanted to make sure she got him good the first time so he couldn't take the gun away from her.

It sounds to me like LE believe his story about as much as most of us do. They sure are keeping him busy with questions. I think that he believes that he has his story down pat and that LE will believe it. Lord only knows he had enough time to figure it all out.

I wonder what time they actually left home and what time the shots were heard. How long was he sitting around after the murders took place? It is mighty suspicious when the husband doesn't call for help with cell phones in the car. He isn't being called a suspect but you can bet that he is.

[chicoliving]

About three weeks before Kimberly Vaughn and her three children were found shot to death in the family's SUV, the Oswego mother told a friend of a recent visit she and her husband made to a gun range for target shooting.

She'd later laugh about how inept she was -- her best shot was a fluke when she hit the bull's-eye with her eyes closed.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/433509,CST-NWS-chann19.article

[chicoliving]

~snip~

“They'd do a swabbing around the hand area where the gun powder goes and they can say if there's nothing on the hand, that person wasn’t holding the gun unless they were holding gloves,” Larsen said.

We couldn't see exactly what the investigators were doing Thursday morning. Larsen, who now heads his own forensic investigation firm, knows.

“You're setting up rods and strings from the victim to a point, he explained. “You'd actually be able to put rods with strings coming out or lasers coming out showing a point where they converge and that’s where your shooter would be sitting or standing.”

State police won’t reveal the status of their probe.

http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/local_story_169230258.html

[Camper]

Here is what I have found so far. Another article said how many phones were found.


Top NewsSave | E-mail | Print
Jun 15, 2007 10:13 pm US/Central

Report: Man Says Wife Fired Shots Killing Family
Neighbors, Family Say Christopher Vaughn Is Nowhere To Be Found
(CBS) CHANNAHON, Ill. Investigators have not told the public whom they suspect of shooting a mother and her three young children in Channahon yesterday morning.

They do say they have no grounds to charge anybody at this point, though that could change at any time. However, the only survivor of the killings was released from police custody Thursday morning and his location is unknown.

Thursday, the CBS 2 Investigators learned that cell phones were found in the SUV where Kimberly Vaughn and her three children were found.

Police are investigating why her husband, Christopher, apparently did not use a phone to call 911 for help. Instead, a passerby made the call when [b]they found Vaughn wounded near the vehicle.





--->>>'they' found Vaughn wounded near the vehicle. But the quote also says 'a' passerby. When doing crime reporting it would be helpful IF words were crafted more carefully by the news media.
I am still wondering IF the caller was involved in the crime. Verbage used here say 'they' found etc.
More than one person in the calling car??? Bobbisangel, was there a link for this information?

.

[Camper]

~snip~

“They'd do a swabbing around the hand area where the gun powder goes and they can say if there's nothing on the hand, that person wasn’t holding the gun unless they were holding gloves,” Larsen said.

We couldn't see exactly what the investigators were doing Thursday morning. Larsen, who now heads his own forensic investigation firm, knows.

“You're setting up rods and strings from the victim to a point, he explained. “You'd actually be able to put rods with strings coming out or lasers coming out showing a point where they converge and that’s where your shooter would be sitting or standing.”

State police won’t reveal the status of their probe.

http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/local_story_169230258.html





--->>>Thanks chicoliving for the two NEW links. Sounds to me like the rope is slowly tightening around the husbands neck.

I also suppose it could be possible that one of the near teenaged Vaughn children had a cell phone. Possible that all three children may have had cell phones.

.

.

[Camper]

~snip~

“They'd do a swabbing around the hand area where the gun powder goes and they can say if there's nothing on the hand, that person wasn’t holding the gun unless they were holding gloves,” Larsen said.

We couldn't see exactly what the investigators were doing Thursday morning. Larsen, who now heads his own forensic investigation firm, knows.

“You're setting up rods and strings from the victim to a point, he explained. “You'd actually be able to put rods with strings coming out or lasers coming out showing a point where they converge and that’s where your shooter would be sitting or standing.”

State police won’t reveal the status of their probe.

http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/local_story_169230258.html






--->>>Here is a link that includes some super video coverage of the TV news on this, also the Stebic case, video on here.
The written story is the same as chicoliving, BUT this link has TV video of Larson explaining more things. http://cbs2chicago.com/westsuburbanbureau/local_story_169230258.html

.

[t93]

My 11 year old has a cell phone, he earned it by making honor roll at report card time. We wanted to get it because his school bus got lost one time (new driver) and no one could get ahold of any of the passengers or driver. So it is very possible someone young has one.

[SewingDeb]

I find his career path to be odd. They met in St. Louis where they both grew up. Then, to "launch his business" they moved to Washington state. Then to Illinois. WTF? Why does someone in his line of work need to be anyplace in particular?

Sounds like he was just keeping her and the kids away from her family.:croc:

I found this:

Vaughn works for Navigant Consulting downtown on South Wacker Avenue, and as a side job, he owns Southbridge Investigations, studying computer forensics.

It was in a link above, but here's the link again:

http://www.nbc5.com/news/13524661/detail.html?rss=chi&psp=news

It sounds to me like he kept his day job while trying to start his own business. Navigant Consulting lists a lot of the same things he lists on his Southbridge Investigations site. Maybe the move was for the job with Navigant?

[SewingDeb]

Thanks for finding the article referencing cell phones being in the vehicle, Bobbi. If I were wounded and my whole family was dead, I would definitely try to use one of the cell phones to call for help.

[twinkiesmom]

<Unless he worked for Boeing or consulted with them, I can't make any sense of their leaving paradise to go to Illinois.>

Maybe because the midwest is a better place to raise a family?:razz:

[Camper]

My 11 year old has a cell phone, he earned it by making honor roll at report card time. We wanted to get it because his school bus got lost one time (new driver) and no one could get ahold of any of the passengers or driver. So it is very possible someone young has one.




--->>>Welcome t93, good job on your son and his cell phone. I have 17 grandchildren, so cell phones are in wide use. My 13 year old grandson, whose parents are divorced has had a cell phone for several years. Helpful so he can communicate with either parent BUT calling/text messaging is a popular activity. I am now wondering if any of the three children might have communicated with friends of any parental problems.

I find it also rather interestingly ODD that PERHAPS the father did not try to touch any of his family and get bloody in the process TO SEE IF ANY OF THEM WERE ALIVE. IF it was part of his plan to keep himself pristine to NOT touch anything.

.
.

[Camper]

Thanks for finding the article referencing cell phones being in the vehicle, Bobbi. If I were wounded and my whole family was dead, I would definitely try to use one of the cell phones to call for help.



--->>>Well he would most likely have gotten bloody to find a cell phone that any of his children had, because because he would have gotten himself bloody in the process. I don't know how pristine his personal clothing or hands etc were.

.

[close_enough]

About three weeks before Kimberly Vaughn and her three children were found shot to death in the family's SUV, the Oswego mother told a friend of a recent visit she and her husband made to a gun range for target shooting.

She'd later laugh about how inept she was -- her best shot was a fluke when she hit the bull's-eye with her eyes closed.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/433509,CST-NWS-chann19.article

hmmmm, so the husband could tell LE...**'oh yes, she knew how to use a gun; we'd been to a target range recently, officer'.... again, hmmmm:rolleyes:

i wonder whose idea it was to have Kimberly learn how to shoot a gun?...the husband knew how..he was an avid hunter, so i read.....


** my wording

[close_enough]

Yes...he had enough time to do a lot of things.

he certainly did, IF the timeline is correct, as far as a person hearing gunshots a little before 10 pm, the night before.....

[crash676]

I live just downhill of where this happened! If you are not familiar with this area and you wanted to adjust a luggage rack, you probably would have gotten off at the exit before the one they did. The exit before is well lighted, it has a Mc Donalds & gas station on each side of exit & is well lit at all hours. On the other hand, the exit he got off at is a small, dark exit with no towns listed for this exit, it's just an exit # and hardly a place to get off with family at that hour. That is very puzzling about this whole thing.

Hey we must be neighbors.. I live in Chanahon as well... right off Bluff Road. And you are right no way in hell do you get off at Bluff and then go to the frontage road. Even if the luggage was ok by RT 6 and then went wrong after the exit you would get off at Bluff and pull over. I would say the Bluff exit is easily 1/2 mile to 3/4 off a mile long. This area is not an easily accesible or well lighted area. Most people would not frequent these frontage roads unless they knew where they were going.

[close_enough]

~snip~

“They'd do a swabbing around the hand area where the gun powder goes and they can say if there's nothing on the hand, that person wasn’t holding the gun unless they were holding gloves,” Larsen said.

We couldn't see exactly what the investigators were doing Thursday morning. Larsen, who now heads his own forensic investigation firm, knows.

“You're setting up rods and strings from the victim to a point, he explained. “You'd actually be able to put rods with strings coming out or lasers coming out showing a point where they converge and that’s where your shooter would be sitting or standing.”
State police won’t reveal the status of their probe.

http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/local_story_169230258.html

yes, i've seen this on CSI Miami...(ok, i know it's not 'real', but it's still interesting)....they should be able to find out, without a doubt, where the shooter was...whether it be the wife, the husband, or some crazed stranger.....

oops, skip the "crazed stranger".....i forgot that the husband claims the wife 'went off' & shot all of them, including herself....i just don't buy it......hubby gets shot in the thigh...ooooookie dokie

[southcitymom]

yes, i've seen this on CSI Miami...(ok, i know it's not 'real', but it's still interesting)....they should be able to find out, without a doubt, where the shooter was...whether it be the wife, the husband, or some crazed stranger.....

oops, skip the "crazed stranger".....i forgot that the husband claims the wife 'went off' & shot all of them, including herself....i just don't buy it......hubby gets shot in the thigh...ooooookie dokie


Well - did the husband say "she shot me and then all the kids and herself" or did he say "she shot me, I ran away and when I came back, they were all dead" - the latter statement leaves room for a mysterious stranger....of course, that still doesn't make any sense!

None of it makes any sense! Why? Why? Why? If the husband did it, the motive must involve money or sex.

[close_enough]

Well - did the husband say "she shot me and then all the kids and herself" or did he say "she shot me, I ran away and when I came back, they were all dead" - the latter statement leaves room for a mysterious stranger....of course, that still doesn't make any sense!

None of it makes any sense! Why? Why? Why? If the husband did it, the motive must involve money or sex.

well, there's both versions i guess, as far as the media goes...?

Christopher Vaughn, 32, told police that his wife, Kimberly Vaughn, 34, shot their three children to death and then killed herself. He suffered a gunshot wound to the thigh and was treated and released at Provena St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet.

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/429357,2_1_AU14_SLAYINGS_S1.article

[Camper]

Wellllll, here is the BIG #1 QUESTION that LE most likely would have asked Mr. Vaughn, er should ask Mr. Vaughn:

1. Mr. Vaughn, WHY do you think your wife would want to shoot you?

The answer to THIS question would tell LE whether SHE did it or SHE did not do it.



Boy I would sure like to know what angle his thigh shot was inflicted?!?!?! IF IF she was that upset/angry/crazy etc. She would have shot him in the back as he got out of the car, Mary Winkler shot her husband in the back, hmmm.

Mr. Vaughns story is so half baked, I find it foolish and unbelievable.

.

[chicoliving]

Wellllll, here is the BIG #1 QUESTION that LE most likely would have asked Mr. Vaughn, er should ask Mr. Vaughn:

1. Mr. Vaughn, WHY do you think your wife would want to shoot you?

The answer to THIS question would tell LE whether SHE did it or SHE did not do it.



Boy I would sure like to know what angle his thigh shot was inflicted?!?!?! IF IF she was that upset/angry/crazy etc. She would have shot him in the back as he got out of the car, Mary Winkler shot her husband in the back, hmmm.

Mr. Vaughns story is so half baked, I find it foolish and unbelievable.

.

It's sure not passing the common sense test. He was the driver so why choose that desolate place to check your top load? and when you do your wife suddenly goes nuts and starts shooting the children and yourself? How convenient.

[WholeLottaRosie]

It was my understanding from reading the articles that the grandmother and the aunt were coming to the Vaughns house to stay with the kids while the parents were off for the weekend.

You know, I wasn't/am not sure. I read it both ways. I know I read a couple articles and maybe this was early one where it said they were taking the kids to parents before going on anniv. trip and this did make sense to me - actually if they are going to Hermann having the parents drive up to care for the kids makes less sense. Maybe this will be made clear.

[Nova]

<Unless he worked for Boeing or consulted with them, I can't make any sense of their leaving paradise to go to Illinois.>

Maybe because the midwest is a better place to raise a family?:razz:

A family of what? Prairie dogs, maybe. :angel:

[opme]

It's sure not passing the common sense test. He was the driver so why choose that desolate place to check your top load? and when you do your wife suddenly goes nuts and starts shooting the children and yourself? How convenient.


yes and what person who has "suddenly gone nuts" stops shooting with just one bullet..? if that person is the true target of their aggression? Sorry, the location is not convienent to someone who is just going to make a quick adjustment to their lugguage and get back one the road. The trip to the gun range just makes it obvious that the wife is not comfortable with weapons ( closing her eyes while shooting) and definately not experienced. additonally by all accounts this was a very ccaring concerned loving mother who carefully watched over her children and couldnt bear to remove a splinter.. not one who is likely to take out her rage on her children with a weapon she is unfamiliar and uncomfortable with. She is however a woman who is finding a life outstide her husband and family.. her degree, her new job and such point to new interests and goals and desires that were likely frightening to the husband.. she was beco ing less dependant upon her husband for financial and other means of support. Her emotional life was expanding to others outside the home and as such her focus and time were less on the husband.. all of this just it more than obvious along with the circumstances, timing, and the physicial evidence that this was a crime committed by the husband not the wife.

[kinsey milhoune]

Hey we must be neighbors.. I live in Chanahon as well... right off Bluff Road. And you are right no way in hell do you get off at Bluff and then go to the frontage road. Even if the luggage was ok by RT 6 and then went wrong after the exit you would get off at Bluff and pull over. I would say the Bluff exit is easily 1/2 mile to 3/4 off a mile long. This area is not an easily accesible or well lighted area. Most people would not frequent these frontage roads unless they knew where they were going.

Yes, we are neighbors. I just rode by there (9:10 p.m.) since there has been so much discussion about whether the area is lighted by the tower. I go by it a lot in the daytime on I-55 or on Bluff, but rarely at nite.

There are NO lights by the cell tower at all. The only light is a highway light south of the tower area & it does not light up that area at all. In fact, that road is downright scary at nite, turning off Bluff onto that frontage road, it's all tree lined on each side & it's VERY dark leading up to the cell tower small road, in fact I had to watch for it or would have missed it.
Seems someone was looking for a dark area rather than one well lit to check their luggage rack!

[kinsey milhoune]

Originally Posted by southcitymom
I could understand that if not for the time - we're driving to a waterpark at 4 a.m.? How does that make sense to the Mom or the kids?

I am coming up with the same question!!! What in the world would they do at 4 a.m. waiting for a waterpark to open? Does not add up!

[kinsey milhoune]

I just rode past the cell tower where this happened. After reading so many posts wondering about the area, I decided to see it at nite.

I live less than 5 minutes from it.

Here is what I know about the area:

1. The exit one mile before this one is WELL LIT, has a gas station & a McDonalds and another gas station just on the other side of the exit.

2. This exit where it happened (Bluff Rd.) is a small exit, no towns indicated or anything, just an exit #.

3. There is NO LIGHT by the cell tower at all. It is very DARK there by those trees.

4. On the sides of the road leading to the cell tower, it is all tree lined on each side & very dark, almost eerie at nite & the road is a very small two lane, almost like you are on a country road.

5. Bluff road leads to a Marina, unless he was a fisherman, he probably would not have been aware of this road at all, other than it is a dark, secluded exit.

6. The road actually circles around & leads back into Channahon.

7. There are NO houses on that road the direction he was going.

8. There is a subdision in the north direction of that road to the north of Bluff road, but he turned south on the frontage road off of Bluff.

9. He could have walked to the marina, but it is not visible, it is a ways down the dark road & not marked & is past a curve in the road where he would not be aware of anything being there at all.

10. If he walked the other way on the frontage road he would go past the subdivision & end up back at the McDonalds exit.

11. There are lights on the highway, but they are south of the tower enough that it DOES NOT light up the area by the tower at all.

12. You really would have to have lived near here to be aware of this road & that there were no houses or anything for quite a while in that area.

13. Oswego is not that close that living in Oswego you would know about side roads in Channahon.

14. There is some farm field behind the cell tower area & beyond that is a golf course, so no lights at all behind this area at any time.

This is what I can tell you of the area. If you have any questions about the area itself, I can tell you as I have lived here many years.

Hope this helps clear up about the cell tower & lights.

[kinsey milhoune]

I am having an interesting thought.

Could the person who MADE the call for Vaughn have been the shooter?

WE don't know where the two encountered each other, whether Vaughn walked to the main road, OR OR IF the other car was already there by the CELL tower.

The Cell tower seems to be a very identifiable location for folks that know the area, am I right, posters from Illinois?




.

Actually, I used Bluff Rd. a lot when our main Highway into Channahon was under construction a few years ago & to tell you the truth, I never paid attention to the cell tower or it even being there. We travel on Bluff Rd. to I-55 & get on I-55 right there every weekend, to our boat & I still can't actually say that the cell tower caught my attention. So, I would say No the cell tower is not that identifiable to even those of us who live here. I just never paid any attention to the fact that a cell tower was even there.

[Camper]

Actually, I used Bluff Rd. a lot when our main Highway into Channahon was under construction a few years ago & to tell you the truth, I never paid attention to the cell tower or it even being there. We travel on Bluff Rd. to I-55 & get on I-55 right there every weekend, to our boat & I still can't actually say that the cell tower caught my attention. So, I would say No the cell tower is not that identifiable to even those of us who live here. I just never paid any attention to the fact that a cell tower was even there.



--->>>Hello kinsey milhoune, welcome to the forum. My point was that IF IF this is a pre meditated murder, husband could have described the exit and the tower too, would that be a good assumption on my part? Describing to the shooter where to meet 'that' night. Actually husband could have taken the 'shooter' to the location in daylight to make sure the 'shooter' knew where to come etc. On the other hand the cell tower being near may in fact have not reasonable explanation other than that was where it was physically.

So the marina is about how far from where the car was, and I assume there would be water with which to 'clean up' IF IF the husband was the 'only' person involved in the murder, no other 'shooter' perp.

Do you have a dog? I guess I would be surprised IF IF LE did not search the area with a tracking dog, for disposed of gloves, clothes or whatever else might have been intimidating to the husbands involvement.
Have you had any rain since the murders? If not the gun powder residue should still be amenable to finding the scent.

I am also wondering where the family loaded up to leave their home? IF they loaded up in the garage, it is possible that the family may have been poisoned and 'loaded into the vehicle under cover of inside the garage.

So many questions and no answers from this rocking chair sleuth of 60 years standing. I became interested in crime and criminals at the age of 14.

.

[pamlet]

The location is a puzzle to me ...

From Kinsey's account .. and from looking at the satellite photos it would appear to be difficult to "fall upon" the location.

If the husband did it then how does he explain that away? It is just such a weird place to stop.

IF (a HUGE IF) the wife planned it - I could almost see it - especially if she was giving directions and hollering about the thing on the roof... I wonder if she had a map on her lap? I guess I'm just trying to figure the location thing .. and trying to think of "reasons" to be right there.

Just trying to figure different scenarios...

[philamena]

...
If the husband did it then how does he explain that away? It is just such a weird place to stop.....
...
He did explain it away. He said he stopped to fix the car carrier. I see what you mean though. Imo he picked that spot so no one would see him kill his family and shoot himself.

[hollyjokers]

CBS2 Chicago reporting that Christopher has told investigators he made a confession of sorts to Kimberly, which explains why she got massively pi$$ed & gave him a superficial wound in the fatty tissue of his thigh while executing her beloved children & herself. http://cbs2chicago.com/westsuburbanbureau/local_story_170193202.html