1 00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:07,880 Speaker 1: Murder in Illinois, a production of iHeartRadio. If you spend 2 00:00:08,039 --> 00:00:11,479 Speaker 1: enough time investigating true crime stories, you wind up with 3 00:00:11,600 --> 00:00:15,600 Speaker 1: some pretty disturbing content, and that's how this case landed 4 00:00:15,680 --> 00:00:19,599 Speaker 1: on my radar. Back in twenty eighteen, I was wrapping 5 00:00:19,680 --> 00:00:23,639 Speaker 1: up my first podcast, Happy Face. Maybe at some point 6 00:00:23,720 --> 00:00:27,040 Speaker 1: i'd entered the keywords kill her dad or father who 7 00:00:27,160 --> 00:00:30,480 Speaker 1: kills but the ten year anniversary of the Vaughan family 8 00:00:30,600 --> 00:00:34,640 Speaker 1: murders wound up in my feed. I'd never heard of 9 00:00:34,720 --> 00:00:38,440 Speaker 1: the two thousand and seven killings, although regionally around Illinois 10 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:41,280 Speaker 1: they received a ton of press. But it was the 11 00:00:41,440 --> 00:00:45,479 Speaker 1: father's mugshot that caught my attention and its expression that 12 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:49,000 Speaker 1: actually made me click that link. Suddenly I found myself 13 00:00:49,120 --> 00:00:54,120 Speaker 1: staring into the eyes of Christopher Vaughan. I scanned some 14 00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:57,400 Speaker 1: articles and viewed a few news pieces about the gruesome murders. 15 00:00:57,920 --> 00:01:02,440 Speaker 1: Three kids and their mother all dead. Then I went 16 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:05,399 Speaker 1: back to the top, reabsorbing the timeline and the details. 17 00:01:05,800 --> 00:01:09,920 Speaker 1: Some like infidelity in strip clubs, were tabloid headlines, some 18 00:01:10,319 --> 00:01:15,280 Speaker 1: disturbing and all heartbreaking. But I kept getting drawn back 19 00:01:15,319 --> 00:01:18,640 Speaker 1: to the look on this guy, Christopher Baughd's face. There 20 00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:23,039 Speaker 1: was this unnervingly odd, almost eerie look in his eyes, 21 00:01:23,600 --> 00:01:25,920 Speaker 1: eyes that belonged to a man the will County States 22 00:01:25,959 --> 00:01:27,360 Speaker 1: Attorney described. 23 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:30,080 Speaker 2: As the heartless, soulless psychopath. 24 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:34,360 Speaker 1: I remember thinking, for a guy convicted of killing his 25 00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:37,119 Speaker 1: entire family, ban looked a hell of a lot more 26 00:01:37,319 --> 00:01:40,800 Speaker 1: bewildered than evil. Putting on my glasses, I leaned in 27 00:01:40,959 --> 00:01:44,480 Speaker 1: closer and expanded the screen until it was filled entirely 28 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:49,160 Speaker 1: with just Baughn's eyes, and thought, what could possibly drive 29 00:01:49,240 --> 00:01:52,320 Speaker 1: a parent to kill their kids in such a twisted, 30 00:01:52,480 --> 00:01:56,400 Speaker 1: cruel and confrontational way? And why did the eyes staring 31 00:01:56,480 --> 00:02:00,840 Speaker 1: back at me look so confused, almost lost? They had 32 00:02:00,880 --> 00:02:04,000 Speaker 1: this pained intensity, heightened by the slight furrow of the 33 00:02:04,120 --> 00:02:07,160 Speaker 1: sparse brows that topped them, and punctuated by the dark 34 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:10,919 Speaker 1: circles beneath them. Those eyes didn't look like they belonged 35 00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:14,239 Speaker 1: to a guy who shot his entire family at close range. 36 00:02:14,919 --> 00:02:21,000 Speaker 1: They looked haunted. Then, almost as an involuntary reflex, I typed, 37 00:02:21,320 --> 00:02:25,560 Speaker 1: could Christopher Vaughn be innocent? Into Google? The results that 38 00:02:25,639 --> 00:02:28,519 Speaker 1: popped up would put me on a troubling, nearly two 39 00:02:28,639 --> 00:02:35,440 Speaker 1: year path filled with staggering twists, turns, and bombshells. I'm 40 00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:38,840 Speaker 1: Lauren Brett Pacheco, and this is murder in Illinois. 41 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:50,640 Speaker 3: Cageaty change feel the ground, ho. 42 00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:55,079 Speaker 4: HO change. 43 00:02:58,560 --> 00:02:58,840 Speaker 1: Out. 44 00:03:32,320 --> 00:03:39,520 Speaker 2: Christopher Vaughan is a former private investigator who specialized in 45 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:45,960 Speaker 2: computer forensics. He is today sitting in the Illinois Department 46 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:50,680 Speaker 2: of Corrections in Pinkneyville, Illinois, convicted of the murder of 47 00:03:50,760 --> 00:03:55,200 Speaker 2: his family that consisted of his wife, Kimberly, and three children. 48 00:03:56,000 --> 00:03:58,320 Speaker 2: The deeper I got into was case I realized that 49 00:03:58,480 --> 00:03:59,960 Speaker 2: he's actually innocent. 50 00:04:00,920 --> 00:04:04,440 Speaker 1: That's Bill the man. My internet search into Vaughn's possible 51 00:04:04,480 --> 00:04:05,520 Speaker 1: innocence led me to. 52 00:04:06,240 --> 00:04:10,320 Speaker 2: My name is Bill Clutter. I work as a private investigator. 53 00:04:10,360 --> 00:04:14,360 Speaker 2: I've been doing this for over thirty years now and 54 00:04:16,279 --> 00:04:19,640 Speaker 2: have developed a specialty of criminal defense investigation. 55 00:04:20,400 --> 00:04:23,280 Speaker 1: Clutter was a detective for Vaughn's initial defense team, but 56 00:04:23,400 --> 00:04:25,239 Speaker 1: initially didn't believe he was innocent. 57 00:04:25,880 --> 00:04:28,520 Speaker 2: I was influenced by the media as much of the 58 00:04:28,600 --> 00:04:33,520 Speaker 2: public was, and just assume he's got these superficial injuries. 59 00:04:33,880 --> 00:04:38,560 Speaker 2: He's the sole survivor, and so initially I assumed this 60 00:04:38,760 --> 00:04:41,240 Speaker 2: was going to be a mitigation case where we would 61 00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:44,920 Speaker 2: focus on telling a story that would persuade A Jerry 62 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:45,920 Speaker 2: to spare his life. 63 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:49,640 Speaker 1: There are a number of developments that take us from 64 00:04:49,760 --> 00:04:52,160 Speaker 1: there to why Bill Clutter is still involved with the 65 00:04:52,240 --> 00:04:56,279 Speaker 1: case fourteen years later, nine years after Vaughn was convicted. 66 00:04:57,720 --> 00:05:00,280 Speaker 2: Over the years, have worked on a number of people 67 00:05:00,279 --> 00:05:04,279 Speaker 2: who've been wrongfully convicted, and it led me to create 68 00:05:04,680 --> 00:05:07,719 Speaker 2: what's now the Illinois Innocence Project. And that was almost 69 00:05:07,760 --> 00:05:12,799 Speaker 2: twenty years ago. I started investigating innocence after I moved 70 00:05:12,920 --> 00:05:16,720 Speaker 2: to Louisville, Kentucky, after Illinois abolished the death Belloty. 71 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:19,799 Speaker 1: Clutters days pretty busy trying to get people out of prison, 72 00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:21,760 Speaker 1: which is why it took me a while to track 73 00:05:21,839 --> 00:05:22,200 Speaker 1: him down. 74 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:26,160 Speaker 2: When we finally connected by a phone. I had just 75 00:05:26,279 --> 00:05:32,240 Speaker 2: pulled into Columbus, Ohios late in the evenings, sometime after seven, 76 00:05:32,279 --> 00:05:34,400 Speaker 2: and I was park literally outside of a restaurant to 77 00:05:34,480 --> 00:05:40,200 Speaker 2: have dinner in Dublin, Ohio. That was December of twenty eighteen. 78 00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:43,599 Speaker 1: We've been talking ever since. I'd get to know Bill 79 00:05:43,680 --> 00:05:46,960 Speaker 1: Clutter is an affable, principled guy with an almost boyish 80 00:05:47,120 --> 00:05:52,559 Speaker 1: enthusiasm about social issues balanced by pragmatics, somewhat pessimistic takes 81 00:05:52,600 --> 00:05:56,040 Speaker 1: on the judicial system, and politics. He ran for the 82 00:05:56,120 --> 00:05:57,320 Speaker 1: Illinois Senate twice. 83 00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:01,000 Speaker 2: In nineteen ninety I almost became the first Democrat in 84 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:02,800 Speaker 2: eighty six years to win that seat. 85 00:06:03,279 --> 00:06:06,839 Speaker 1: Once COVID lockdown hit, I started communicating more with Bill 86 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:10,400 Speaker 1: than just about anybody living outside my house, mostly about 87 00:06:10,440 --> 00:06:14,600 Speaker 1: his frustrations involving his long history challenging Christopher Vaughan's conviction. 88 00:06:16,240 --> 00:06:18,640 Speaker 2: You know, I've been trying to pitch the Vaughn case 89 00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:23,400 Speaker 2: and line up pro bono representation for him. I could 90 00:06:23,560 --> 00:06:26,160 Speaker 2: show you stacks of letters that I've sent out to 91 00:06:26,839 --> 00:06:30,360 Speaker 2: the president of the Illinois Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 92 00:06:30,440 --> 00:06:33,800 Speaker 2: who I knew and I've got no response, and to others, 93 00:06:33,880 --> 00:06:35,760 Speaker 2: and trying to get him support. 94 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:39,040 Speaker 1: Not exactly an easy undertaking, since Clutter is one of 95 00:06:39,080 --> 00:06:42,120 Speaker 1: the few people who believe Chris Vaughn is innocent outside 96 00:06:42,160 --> 00:06:43,719 Speaker 1: of Chris's parents and siblings. 97 00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:48,000 Speaker 2: I've never given up on Christoph Vaughan. In the eyes 98 00:06:48,080 --> 00:06:51,040 Speaker 2: of the law, he is a convicted killer. And so 99 00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:56,440 Speaker 2: you're starting at that point, and it's difficult to change 100 00:06:56,520 --> 00:07:01,640 Speaker 2: people's minds once they hear that. Hopefully, the more we 101 00:07:02,040 --> 00:07:06,159 Speaker 2: peel away at this case and expose the wrongful nature 102 00:07:06,200 --> 00:07:08,839 Speaker 2: of the conviction, those minds will change, but. 103 00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:13,040 Speaker 1: Many minds have already been influenced by the reality. Vaughn 104 00:07:13,240 --> 00:07:16,840 Speaker 1: was the sole survivor of a horrific crime for which 105 00:07:16,880 --> 00:07:20,840 Speaker 1: he was convicted, and it was salaciously covered, especially by 106 00:07:20,920 --> 00:07:21,520 Speaker 1: local news. 107 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:24,480 Speaker 2: This all played out in the media, and they really 108 00:07:24,520 --> 00:07:25,320 Speaker 2: had a field day. 109 00:07:25,760 --> 00:07:28,480 Speaker 1: Vaughn is accused of killing his wife and three children. 110 00:07:28,880 --> 00:07:31,880 Speaker 2: There was just a drone of negative media about him 111 00:07:31,960 --> 00:07:32,679 Speaker 2: and his case. 112 00:07:33,080 --> 00:07:36,840 Speaker 5: Prosecutors said that Vaughn's motive was his wife's one million 113 00:07:36,920 --> 00:07:38,480 Speaker 5: dollar life insurance policy. 114 00:07:39,120 --> 00:07:43,640 Speaker 1: So understandably to many living around Illinois, Vaughn is considered 115 00:07:43,800 --> 00:07:47,640 Speaker 1: an especially evil man. Prosecutors in the Christopher Vaughan murder 116 00:07:47,760 --> 00:07:50,960 Speaker 1: trial argue he murdered his family because they were obstacles 117 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:54,240 Speaker 1: in his life. Jojosey was one of the local reporters 118 00:07:54,240 --> 00:07:55,560 Speaker 1: who covered the story well. 119 00:07:55,600 --> 00:07:57,440 Speaker 6: At the time the Vaughn family murders. I was working 120 00:07:57,480 --> 00:08:00,640 Speaker 6: at the Juliet Herald News newspaper and Juliet Ellino and 121 00:08:01,080 --> 00:08:03,680 Speaker 6: I got one of the editors to sometimes calling me 122 00:08:03,960 --> 00:08:07,960 Speaker 6: on mysell and demanding to know where I am. He's like, 123 00:08:08,120 --> 00:08:11,840 Speaker 6: we got this huge story. There's a big murder in Shanahan. 124 00:08:11,920 --> 00:08:14,880 Speaker 6: A whole family has been murdered. Chrusoper Vaughn case was. 125 00:08:15,320 --> 00:08:16,800 Speaker 6: It was a very big case locally. I mean, you 126 00:08:16,840 --> 00:08:19,400 Speaker 6: had the Chicago media down here, it was. It had 127 00:08:19,440 --> 00:08:21,840 Speaker 6: a great impact. I mean, three children and their mother 128 00:08:23,160 --> 00:08:25,640 Speaker 6: on their way to a water park and then executed. 129 00:08:25,880 --> 00:08:26,880 Speaker 6: That's going to be a big story. 130 00:08:28,280 --> 00:08:31,160 Speaker 1: Joe's a prolific journalist and the author of fatal Now's 131 00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:35,000 Speaker 1: The Tragic Wives of Sergeant Drew Peterson, which was later 132 00:08:35,080 --> 00:08:38,000 Speaker 1: made into a movie called Untouchable starring Rob Lowe as 133 00:08:38,040 --> 00:08:41,400 Speaker 1: the wife killing cop. It unfolded the same year as 134 00:08:41,440 --> 00:08:44,959 Speaker 1: the Vaughn tragedy, along with another high profile case. 135 00:08:45,400 --> 00:08:47,600 Speaker 6: Two thousand and seven was an unusual year around here. 136 00:08:47,920 --> 00:08:50,880 Speaker 6: They had the disappearance of Lisa Static mother and wife 137 00:08:50,920 --> 00:08:53,679 Speaker 6: and playfield and she was going through a divorce but 138 00:08:53,800 --> 00:08:56,000 Speaker 6: living in the same house as or a strange husband, 139 00:08:56,000 --> 00:08:59,400 Speaker 6: and she vanished. That was a huge story in the 140 00:08:59,480 --> 00:09:03,040 Speaker 6: Chicago area. Soon after that you had the Lawns Christopher 141 00:09:03,080 --> 00:09:06,720 Speaker 6: Vaughn and his family, mother and three children shot to death. 142 00:09:07,120 --> 00:09:11,480 Speaker 6: Then months after that you had Drew Peterson, which pulled 143 00:09:11,480 --> 00:09:13,520 Speaker 6: all the attention off of both of those cases. Really, 144 00:09:13,679 --> 00:09:18,360 Speaker 6: I mean Drew Peterson, Stacy Peterson, Kathleen Savio. That story 145 00:09:18,559 --> 00:09:20,079 Speaker 6: pulled the limelight away from all of them. 146 00:09:20,640 --> 00:09:25,160 Speaker 1: Drew Peterson's high profile trial grabbed national headlines, and his 147 00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:28,880 Speaker 1: trial also happened at the same time in the same 148 00:09:28,960 --> 00:09:30,600 Speaker 1: building as Christopher Vaughns. 149 00:09:30,920 --> 00:09:33,719 Speaker 6: I ended up covering most of the trial after Drew 150 00:09:33,760 --> 00:09:37,679 Speaker 6: Peterson's was over. It's a very photogenic family, very attractive family, 151 00:09:38,559 --> 00:09:42,319 Speaker 6: adorable children, and they were terribly brutally murdered. I don't 152 00:09:42,320 --> 00:09:44,760 Speaker 6: think I saw the crime scene photos until the trial, 153 00:09:45,960 --> 00:09:49,720 Speaker 6: but which they were heartbreaking. But you don't really need 154 00:09:49,800 --> 00:09:54,040 Speaker 6: to see the crime scene photos to have your heart broken. 155 00:09:54,559 --> 00:09:58,880 Speaker 6: Anytime there's a case involving murdered children and murdered mother, 156 00:09:59,120 --> 00:10:03,040 Speaker 6: it's heartbreaking. It's terrible. There's nothing worse that I can 157 00:10:03,240 --> 00:10:03,920 Speaker 6: really think of. 158 00:10:04,559 --> 00:10:07,800 Speaker 1: And Dan Illinois, Christopher Vaughn is thought of as the 159 00:10:07,880 --> 00:10:11,160 Speaker 1: guy who killed his wife and three children to escape 160 00:10:11,200 --> 00:10:15,720 Speaker 1: his marriage. Was there ever any sympathy for Christopher. 161 00:10:15,400 --> 00:10:18,240 Speaker 6: Vaughn, Not that I can recall. I mean, I don't 162 00:10:18,240 --> 00:10:21,640 Speaker 6: think anybody really bought into his version of events. 163 00:10:22,360 --> 00:10:25,839 Speaker 1: Yep, there are many more complicated pieces to the story. 164 00:10:26,240 --> 00:10:28,679 Speaker 1: We'll be covering them all but we have to start 165 00:10:28,720 --> 00:10:32,480 Speaker 1: with the murders Christopher Vaughan was convicted of committing. While 166 00:10:32,480 --> 00:10:36,320 Speaker 1: the details are disturbing and brutal, they are also critical 167 00:10:36,360 --> 00:10:39,600 Speaker 1: to understanding the case and whether the man now serving 168 00:10:39,720 --> 00:10:49,600 Speaker 1: life actually took four lives. The murders occurred on June fourteenth, 169 00:10:49,720 --> 00:10:53,040 Speaker 1: two thousand and seven. In the quiet pre dawn hours 170 00:10:53,080 --> 00:10:57,199 Speaker 1: of that Thursday morning. The Vaughn family, Christopher, his wife Kimberly, 171 00:10:57,240 --> 00:11:00,839 Speaker 1: and their three children, loaded up their red Ford Xpedition suv, 172 00:11:01,520 --> 00:11:04,360 Speaker 1: setting out before five a m. From their home in 173 00:11:04,440 --> 00:11:08,240 Speaker 1: Oswego for an impromptu family trip to a water park 174 00:11:08,480 --> 00:11:13,199 Speaker 1: three hours away in Springfield, Illinois. They would never arrive. 175 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:18,120 Speaker 1: At approximately five fifteen a m. A passing motorist stop 176 00:11:18,240 --> 00:11:21,480 Speaker 1: to render assistance to Christopher Vaughan, who was found limping 177 00:11:21,520 --> 00:11:25,880 Speaker 1: along the frontage road of Interstate fifty five south of Joliet, Illinois. 178 00:11:26,800 --> 00:11:30,319 Speaker 1: Vaughan had two gunshot wounds. One bullet had pierced his 179 00:11:30,440 --> 00:11:33,480 Speaker 1: left wrist, the other went entirely through his left leg. 180 00:11:34,160 --> 00:11:35,880 Speaker 1: When the man asked if Vaughan had been in a 181 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:39,800 Speaker 1: motorcycle accident or if he'd been stabbed, he replied, no, 182 00:11:40,160 --> 00:11:43,040 Speaker 1: I think my wife shot me. The rest of his 183 00:11:43,200 --> 00:11:47,000 Speaker 1: family wouldn't fare as well. At five twenty four a 184 00:11:47,200 --> 00:11:50,000 Speaker 1: m first responders would encounter a trail of blood reaching 185 00:11:50,120 --> 00:11:52,719 Speaker 1: roughly one hundred and forty feet, which led to the 186 00:11:52,800 --> 00:11:56,959 Speaker 1: family's red Ford expedition nestled in a secluded area of 187 00:11:57,040 --> 00:12:01,800 Speaker 1: the frontage road of Interstate fifty five. Upon their arrival, 188 00:12:02,360 --> 00:12:05,760 Speaker 1: all the doors to the suv were closed. Inside were 189 00:12:05,760 --> 00:12:10,160 Speaker 1: the remaining members of Christopher Vaughan's family dead. His three 190 00:12:10,280 --> 00:12:14,280 Speaker 1: children were in the back seat. Abigail, aged twelve, behind 191 00:12:14,320 --> 00:12:16,960 Speaker 1: the driver's seat, shot once in the head and once 192 00:12:17,040 --> 00:12:19,880 Speaker 1: in the chest, had been clutching a Harry Potter book 193 00:12:20,000 --> 00:12:23,880 Speaker 1: and a stuffed animal. Her younger sister, Cassandra eleven, in 194 00:12:23,960 --> 00:12:27,199 Speaker 1: the center seat, and their little brother, Blake, age eight, 195 00:12:27,640 --> 00:12:31,000 Speaker 1: seated behind the passenger seat, had also been shot twice. 196 00:12:32,040 --> 00:12:34,240 Speaker 1: Evidence would later show the young boy was holding his 197 00:12:34,440 --> 00:12:37,559 Speaker 1: arms out in a defensive position and likely saw what 198 00:12:37,760 --> 00:12:41,439 Speaker 1: was coming. The body of their mother, Kimberly Vaughan, was 199 00:12:41,480 --> 00:12:45,040 Speaker 1: slumped in the passenger seat, a single gunshot wound under 200 00:12:45,080 --> 00:12:48,280 Speaker 1: her chin. On the floor board. At her feet were 201 00:12:48,360 --> 00:12:52,680 Speaker 1: her purse and a nine millimeter Torus handgun. The murder 202 00:12:52,800 --> 00:12:55,800 Speaker 1: scene was so traumatizing that a police chaplain was brought 203 00:12:55,840 --> 00:13:00,240 Speaker 1: out to provide counseling to responders. Christopher Vaughan, the old 204 00:13:00,280 --> 00:13:03,480 Speaker 1: surviving member of the family, was loaded into an ambulance 205 00:13:03,559 --> 00:13:07,640 Speaker 1: bound for the hospital. On the way there, Chris Vaughn 206 00:13:07,679 --> 00:13:11,320 Speaker 1: appeared to believe his family was still alive. Upon arriving 207 00:13:11,360 --> 00:13:13,679 Speaker 1: at the hospital, he told a nurse, you should call 208 00:13:13,760 --> 00:13:16,160 Speaker 1: my wife. She gets mad when I don't call her. 209 00:13:16,880 --> 00:13:23,200 Speaker 1: That disconnect would continue. After being released from the hospital, 210 00:13:23,720 --> 00:13:26,760 Speaker 1: Christopher Vaughan was taken to the District five police headquarters, 211 00:13:26,760 --> 00:13:30,560 Speaker 1: where he was interviewed by detectives. Vaughn had apparent gaps 212 00:13:30,600 --> 00:13:33,640 Speaker 1: in his recollection of the morning events. He said his 213 00:13:33,720 --> 00:13:36,439 Speaker 1: wife wanted him to pull off the highway because she 214 00:13:36,600 --> 00:13:40,400 Speaker 1: was feeling nauseous, a side effect of anxiety induced migraines, 215 00:13:40,840 --> 00:13:44,280 Speaker 1: or possibly the prescription medication she was taking for the condition. 216 00:13:45,200 --> 00:13:48,199 Speaker 1: Vaughn remembered pulling off, parking in front of a cell 217 00:13:48,240 --> 00:13:51,559 Speaker 1: phone tower along a frontage road to provide privacy for 218 00:13:51,679 --> 00:13:53,760 Speaker 1: his wife, and then getting out of the car to 219 00:13:53,880 --> 00:13:58,199 Speaker 1: check the back tires. He recalled resecuring the strap on 220 00:13:58,280 --> 00:14:02,199 Speaker 1: the luggage rack and observed a deer in the adjoining cornfield. 221 00:14:02,920 --> 00:14:05,760 Speaker 1: It was only after getting back into the vehicle Vaughn 222 00:14:05,880 --> 00:14:08,880 Speaker 1: noticed his leg was bleeding, but had no memory of 223 00:14:09,000 --> 00:14:13,680 Speaker 1: being shot. Over the next twenty hours, police would interrogate Vaughn, 224 00:14:13,960 --> 00:14:17,600 Speaker 1: still clad in a hospital gown, and Vaughn's reaction during 225 00:14:17,640 --> 00:14:22,040 Speaker 1: the questioning raised scrutiny, especially those captured by hidden video 226 00:14:22,160 --> 00:14:25,560 Speaker 1: cameras when the officers left the room. At one point, 227 00:14:25,640 --> 00:14:28,640 Speaker 1: when alone, confronted by a photo of his eight year 228 00:14:28,680 --> 00:14:32,080 Speaker 1: old son, Blake, Vaughn crumpled it and threw it into 229 00:14:32,120 --> 00:14:34,760 Speaker 1: the corner of the room. Less than a week later, 230 00:14:34,960 --> 00:14:37,680 Speaker 1: Christopher Vaughan would be arrested at the funeral of his 231 00:14:37,760 --> 00:14:42,120 Speaker 1: wife and children. Five years later. During Vaughn's five week trial, 232 00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:47,080 Speaker 1: incriminating revelation after revelation would drop, none of them flattering 233 00:14:47,160 --> 00:14:48,120 Speaker 1: for the accused killer. 234 00:14:48,560 --> 00:14:53,240 Speaker 7: This morning, Assistant State's Attorney Mike Fitzgerald meticulously reviewed the 235 00:14:53,280 --> 00:14:57,560 Speaker 7: evidence from the five week long trial, testimony from dozens 236 00:14:57,640 --> 00:15:02,520 Speaker 7: of witnesses. Fitzgerald claimed Vaughn's guilt is painfully obvious. 237 00:15:03,640 --> 00:15:06,920 Speaker 1: The jury would take fifty minutes to find von guilty 238 00:15:07,280 --> 00:15:12,320 Speaker 1: on all four counts of first degree murder. Christopher Vaughan 239 00:15:12,440 --> 00:15:16,160 Speaker 1: has never confessed and for fourteen years has maintained no 240 00:15:16,400 --> 00:15:18,720 Speaker 1: memory of what actually happened to his family in their 241 00:15:18,840 --> 00:15:22,320 Speaker 1: suv that day, no recollection of the four murders for 242 00:15:22,400 --> 00:15:25,240 Speaker 1: which he is now serving a life sentence. Here's Bill 243 00:15:25,320 --> 00:15:25,880 Speaker 1: Clutter again. 244 00:15:26,320 --> 00:15:28,920 Speaker 2: Generally, my rule of thumb as your client is your 245 00:15:28,960 --> 00:15:33,720 Speaker 2: best source of information, and the biggest obstacle was Chris's 246 00:15:33,760 --> 00:15:38,040 Speaker 2: inability to remember the events of what happened that morning. 247 00:15:38,440 --> 00:15:41,760 Speaker 1: The lone survivor, the only person who would have been 248 00:15:41,760 --> 00:15:45,920 Speaker 1: an eye witness to what happened that day, couldn't provide 249 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:47,640 Speaker 1: you with that information. 250 00:15:49,000 --> 00:15:50,760 Speaker 2: That was the frustrating part of the case. 251 00:15:50,840 --> 00:15:54,800 Speaker 1: Yes, Vaughan's defense would attribute his recollection gap to something 252 00:15:54,880 --> 00:15:58,920 Speaker 1: called dissociative amnesia, a disorder that involves the inability to 253 00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:03,560 Speaker 1: recall important personal information that is usually caused by trauma 254 00:16:03,840 --> 00:16:04,360 Speaker 1: or stress. 255 00:16:05,320 --> 00:16:08,520 Speaker 2: He really had no memory, and this is the thing. 256 00:16:08,640 --> 00:16:11,880 Speaker 2: The probable cost to arrest him cited the fact that 257 00:16:12,000 --> 00:16:16,400 Speaker 2: he had basically these gaps in his story, and it 258 00:16:16,520 --> 00:16:20,600 Speaker 2: became clear that he couldn't remember what actually happened. 259 00:16:21,320 --> 00:16:23,600 Speaker 1: But many people in Illinois can't forget it. 260 00:16:25,720 --> 00:16:27,600 Speaker 8: It was a strange case. I'll say that it was 261 00:16:27,680 --> 00:16:30,800 Speaker 8: one of the saddest ones I've covered. It'll never leave me. 262 00:16:31,000 --> 00:16:36,400 Speaker 9: And I've covered serial killer cases, death penalty sentencing hearings 263 00:16:36,480 --> 00:16:39,880 Speaker 9: and all the bets and terrible things, and this one 264 00:16:39,960 --> 00:16:41,600 Speaker 9: will be with. 265 00:16:41,640 --> 00:16:41,920 Speaker 2: Me for. 266 00:16:43,760 --> 00:16:47,680 Speaker 1: That's journalist Erica Worst, a seasoned local reporter who feels 267 00:16:47,840 --> 00:16:50,960 Speaker 1: deeply rooted to the Bond case just to hear. 268 00:16:50,920 --> 00:16:54,400 Speaker 10: The word actually go, I know that that's my community 269 00:16:54,560 --> 00:16:58,200 Speaker 10: and that's where I grow up. We never I mean 270 00:16:58,280 --> 00:17:03,760 Speaker 10: to have three children and a mother killed and a father, 271 00:17:04,119 --> 00:17:06,760 Speaker 10: you know, being convicted of that crime. I mean, you 272 00:17:06,840 --> 00:17:07,840 Speaker 10: would not find that. 273 00:17:07,920 --> 00:17:09,159 Speaker 8: Around here, would not. 274 00:17:09,960 --> 00:17:12,479 Speaker 1: At the time of the murders, Worst was a reporter 275 00:17:12,800 --> 00:17:16,080 Speaker 1: at the Chicago Sun Times, a newspaper that had already 276 00:17:16,119 --> 00:17:20,720 Speaker 1: done a profile on the exceptionally photogenic family before the 277 00:17:20,840 --> 00:17:22,840 Speaker 1: tragedy for a real estate article. 278 00:17:23,640 --> 00:17:25,960 Speaker 10: It was weird because when the story happened, we were 279 00:17:26,040 --> 00:17:27,720 Speaker 10: looking through our types of for a a picture we 280 00:17:27,840 --> 00:17:30,680 Speaker 10: might have had of them, and then we're like, holy shit, 281 00:17:31,560 --> 00:17:34,000 Speaker 10: they were in our own paper not that long ago. 282 00:17:34,880 --> 00:17:38,080 Speaker 10: So that was that was a photo they used often, 283 00:17:38,480 --> 00:17:41,879 Speaker 10: the family's photo when they moved into their house, and 284 00:17:41,960 --> 00:17:42,440 Speaker 10: as we go. 285 00:17:43,680 --> 00:17:45,919 Speaker 8: We had a weekend. 286 00:17:45,640 --> 00:17:49,359 Speaker 10: Feature in the paper that was a design feature, talked 287 00:17:49,359 --> 00:17:52,680 Speaker 10: about homes, et cetera. And their home was featured, and 288 00:17:52,720 --> 00:17:55,120 Speaker 10: they're ganding in front of a bay window, and it's 289 00:17:55,200 --> 00:17:57,840 Speaker 10: all of them and it's just talking about how they 290 00:17:57,960 --> 00:17:59,480 Speaker 10: moved here in their house and this and that. 291 00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:05,679 Speaker 1: Google Christopher Vaughan's family, and two of those photos are 292 00:18:05,680 --> 00:18:08,919 Speaker 1: in the top results, One of Chris and Kim seated 293 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:12,000 Speaker 1: in front of their three standing children, Another of the 294 00:18:12,080 --> 00:18:15,320 Speaker 1: family of five seated together on a brown sectional couch. 295 00:18:16,320 --> 00:18:19,840 Speaker 1: All are casually clad in jeans, the three kids peering 296 00:18:19,880 --> 00:18:24,040 Speaker 1: out beneath silky bangs. Abigail's coloring leaning more towards the 297 00:18:24,080 --> 00:18:27,199 Speaker 1: strawberry blonde of her mother, Cassandra, and Blake a bit 298 00:18:27,280 --> 00:18:31,480 Speaker 1: more brunette like their dad. Chris looks significantly heavier than 299 00:18:31,520 --> 00:18:35,359 Speaker 1: he'd later appear in mugshots. Kimberly is beaming beautifully in 300 00:18:35,440 --> 00:18:39,200 Speaker 1: both photos. The only member of the family smiling broadly 301 00:18:39,320 --> 00:18:43,119 Speaker 1: enough to reveal teeth the home was Christine. 302 00:18:43,160 --> 00:18:47,920 Speaker 10: They had just moved in. They're all standing there, and 303 00:18:48,080 --> 00:18:50,680 Speaker 10: they couldn't have been much younger than they were the 304 00:18:50,800 --> 00:18:53,800 Speaker 10: age they were killed, because they hadn't lived in Las 305 00:18:53,840 --> 00:18:57,320 Speaker 10: Lego too long. You just think, Okay, I got a 306 00:18:57,440 --> 00:19:01,800 Speaker 10: flippath this picture without evening it, not even read the article. 307 00:19:03,840 --> 00:19:05,760 Speaker 10: It was just a picture and the paper that I 308 00:19:05,840 --> 00:19:08,879 Speaker 10: looked at every single day to look at the picture 309 00:19:09,000 --> 00:19:16,040 Speaker 10: and think, oh my god. Four of those five people 310 00:19:16,080 --> 00:19:20,880 Speaker 10: are dead. Now, those kids are dead forever and ever 311 00:19:20,960 --> 00:19:24,240 Speaker 10: and ever and ever and ever. And that's what's haunting, 312 00:19:24,240 --> 00:19:27,359 Speaker 10: because they'll never get any older than they were in 313 00:19:27,440 --> 00:19:27,960 Speaker 10: that picture. 314 00:19:28,680 --> 00:19:32,760 Speaker 1: The tragedy that photo now represents is in stark contrast 315 00:19:32,840 --> 00:19:35,119 Speaker 1: to the stunning good looks of the Telegenic family. 316 00:19:35,760 --> 00:19:37,920 Speaker 10: I mean, they were a picture perfect. That's the kind 317 00:19:37,920 --> 00:19:40,000 Speaker 10: of couple that I would look at and be like, 318 00:19:40,800 --> 00:19:43,760 Speaker 10: see I look there, like, you know, three cute little 319 00:19:43,840 --> 00:19:48,600 Speaker 10: kids and take nice house and cam seems so heavy, 320 00:19:48,880 --> 00:19:52,080 Speaker 10: and that that's what I would point to and say. 321 00:19:52,080 --> 00:19:53,040 Speaker 5: That's what I want. 322 00:19:54,200 --> 00:20:02,280 Speaker 10: And you know, never know what's going on behind closed doors, much. 323 00:20:02,160 --> 00:20:04,159 Speaker 1: Of which would come out in court in front of 324 00:20:04,200 --> 00:20:08,600 Speaker 1: both Chris and Kimberly's grieving torn Aparte families, the Vaughn's 325 00:20:08,840 --> 00:20:12,520 Speaker 1: and the Phillips worst kept meticulous notes throughout the Vaughn 326 00:20:12,640 --> 00:20:15,320 Speaker 1: trial and finds them difficult to revisit. 327 00:20:16,080 --> 00:20:19,840 Speaker 8: It's hard when it's a family family thing. Usually one guy. 328 00:20:20,320 --> 00:20:21,520 Speaker 8: Again it's another guy. 329 00:20:21,359 --> 00:20:23,639 Speaker 4: And a different family, and in this case, it's like 330 00:20:23,720 --> 00:20:28,120 Speaker 4: total devastation, the whole family that was sad. Here's these 331 00:20:28,200 --> 00:20:31,520 Speaker 4: families that used to be one family and now are 332 00:20:31,560 --> 00:20:35,119 Speaker 4: sitting on different sides of the courtroom, and they believe 333 00:20:35,200 --> 00:20:37,280 Speaker 4: one thing, and they believe one thing, and it's never 334 00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:39,240 Speaker 4: going to be resolved, so there's no justice. 335 00:20:40,160 --> 00:20:44,479 Speaker 8: No one's gonna get what they want, which is they 336 00:20:44,600 --> 00:20:45,040 Speaker 8: loved ones. 337 00:20:45,080 --> 00:20:58,320 Speaker 1: Maath covering the five week trial gave worst ample time 338 00:20:58,400 --> 00:21:01,120 Speaker 1: to scrutinize Christopher Vaughn and his behavior. 339 00:21:01,720 --> 00:21:06,160 Speaker 10: I was there and watched every ninety witnesses and every 340 00:21:06,280 --> 00:21:09,280 Speaker 10: piece of evidence, be withdrawald and every autopsy photo. 341 00:21:09,800 --> 00:21:13,280 Speaker 1: When you saw Vaughn in person as opposed to seeing 342 00:21:14,200 --> 00:21:19,320 Speaker 1: the mugshot, can you just take me to your thoughts 343 00:21:19,440 --> 00:21:22,000 Speaker 1: of how he presented in the courtroom. 344 00:21:22,800 --> 00:21:25,679 Speaker 10: Well, I mean he's a handsome man. He was well dressed. 345 00:21:25,720 --> 00:21:29,040 Speaker 10: You don't look at Chris and be like you slaughtered 346 00:21:29,080 --> 00:21:32,000 Speaker 10: your family. It's just not the vibe he gives off. 347 00:21:32,359 --> 00:21:35,879 Speaker 8: It's like he can't be the epitome of evil. 348 00:21:37,359 --> 00:21:39,639 Speaker 4: But then you think back to the autopsy photos and 349 00:21:39,680 --> 00:21:41,160 Speaker 4: you're like, no, that's pretty damn evil. 350 00:21:48,119 --> 00:21:50,600 Speaker 1: Hello, Hey Gail, it's Lauren. 351 00:21:51,400 --> 00:21:52,399 Speaker 11: Hi here Lauren. 352 00:21:53,160 --> 00:21:53,560 Speaker 1: How are you. 353 00:21:54,440 --> 00:21:55,720 Speaker 11: I am doing very well. 354 00:21:56,880 --> 00:22:01,639 Speaker 1: That's Chris Bahnd's mother, Gail. We'd connect by email then phone. 355 00:22:02,040 --> 00:22:05,720 Speaker 1: Her voice reminds me of Yankee candles, warm and comforting 356 00:22:06,119 --> 00:22:09,400 Speaker 1: throughout our calls. I was struck by the consistently positive 357 00:22:09,520 --> 00:22:12,439 Speaker 1: energy she radiates every time she picks up the phone. 358 00:22:12,840 --> 00:22:15,399 Speaker 1: For over a year, we've talked about just about everything, 359 00:22:15,760 --> 00:22:16,639 Speaker 1: including fishing. 360 00:22:17,320 --> 00:22:17,960 Speaker 4: We've got some. 361 00:22:18,000 --> 00:22:20,919 Speaker 12: Pretty good size ones around here, and when I finally. 362 00:22:20,720 --> 00:22:22,600 Speaker 8: Get one, I usually fish only. 363 00:22:22,440 --> 00:22:23,480 Speaker 6: For the little fun fish. 364 00:22:24,240 --> 00:22:27,080 Speaker 12: So when I get something that thens my rod backwards, 365 00:22:27,200 --> 00:22:29,960 Speaker 12: it's like, no, I don't want this. And here's usually 366 00:22:30,040 --> 00:22:32,440 Speaker 12: with me, So I say, if you don't want this fish, 367 00:22:32,520 --> 00:22:35,440 Speaker 12: I'm just dropping the rod and he'll scramble. 368 00:22:35,080 --> 00:22:36,000 Speaker 1: The eye into the boat. 369 00:22:36,080 --> 00:22:37,159 Speaker 13: He said, give it, give it, give it. 370 00:22:40,000 --> 00:22:42,640 Speaker 1: Well, then it's a good thing that you fish together then, 371 00:22:42,960 --> 00:22:46,040 Speaker 1: or you'd be losing a lot of rods. Yes, But 372 00:22:46,119 --> 00:22:48,639 Speaker 1: when the topic turns to Chris, the eldest of her 373 00:22:48,680 --> 00:22:52,240 Speaker 1: three sons, you hear a sudden shift, almost like a 374 00:22:52,359 --> 00:22:57,520 Speaker 1: WinCE from an old injury, followed by frustration, Well, my 375 00:22:57,640 --> 00:22:58,439 Speaker 1: son is innocent. 376 00:22:58,720 --> 00:23:02,359 Speaker 11: He did not kill his three children nor his wife. 377 00:23:02,960 --> 00:23:05,360 Speaker 11: My son did not do this, and he's sitting there 378 00:23:05,440 --> 00:23:11,960 Speaker 11: in prison in the middle of Illinois. Nobody can hold him. 379 00:23:12,840 --> 00:23:16,040 Speaker 11: When this happened, there was nobody to talk to him 380 00:23:17,320 --> 00:23:22,480 Speaker 11: after he lost these his family. We had counselors, we 381 00:23:22,640 --> 00:23:23,240 Speaker 11: had each other. 382 00:23:23,640 --> 00:23:27,680 Speaker 1: Chris had no one for fourteen years. Gail's been trying 383 00:23:27,720 --> 00:23:30,040 Speaker 1: to get her son out of prison with little support, 384 00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:31,720 Speaker 1: something she's grown used to. 385 00:23:32,440 --> 00:23:38,600 Speaker 14: A couple days after this this awful tragedy, mister Glasgow 386 00:23:38,720 --> 00:23:44,200 Speaker 14: appeared on TV with all the higher up people that 387 00:23:44,320 --> 00:23:45,200 Speaker 14: were investigating. 388 00:23:46,080 --> 00:23:49,959 Speaker 1: She's referencing James Glasgow, the Will County State's attorney who 389 00:23:50,040 --> 00:23:51,240 Speaker 1: prosecuted her son. 390 00:23:51,720 --> 00:23:55,719 Speaker 13: And he pretty much pointed out that Kimberly was an 391 00:23:55,760 --> 00:23:59,879 Speaker 13: angel and he would deal with the person that did this, 392 00:24:00,240 --> 00:24:02,000 Speaker 13: and he was pretty sure he knew who it was. 393 00:24:02,760 --> 00:24:06,320 Speaker 11: And it never deviated from his point of view there. 394 00:24:06,920 --> 00:24:10,119 Speaker 11: He was always trying to fit the evidence into the 395 00:24:10,240 --> 00:24:15,720 Speaker 11: crime instead of following the evidence. The jurors some of 396 00:24:15,800 --> 00:24:21,000 Speaker 11: them actually fell asleep during the trial. I mean, how 397 00:24:21,040 --> 00:24:27,359 Speaker 11: can somebody put somebody into prison that doesn't listen. 398 00:24:27,359 --> 00:24:31,000 Speaker 1: To all of the facts. Gaale moderates a Facebook group 399 00:24:31,400 --> 00:24:35,159 Speaker 1: Christopher Vaughan is Innocent, the last word in all caps. 400 00:24:35,800 --> 00:24:38,240 Speaker 1: It had sixteen members when I looked it up. In 401 00:24:38,320 --> 00:24:41,280 Speaker 1: addition to Bill Clutter, many of them are Vaughn relatives. 402 00:24:42,160 --> 00:24:45,480 Speaker 11: This is hard to put together all of the things 403 00:24:45,520 --> 00:24:50,119 Speaker 11: that went wrong and what we should have said throughout 404 00:24:50,119 --> 00:24:53,960 Speaker 11: the whole trial. We kept our emotions in because that's 405 00:24:54,000 --> 00:24:55,240 Speaker 11: what our lawyers told us to do. 406 00:24:56,240 --> 00:24:59,080 Speaker 1: That Facebook group's banner image is a photo of Vaughn 407 00:24:59,320 --> 00:25:02,639 Speaker 1: in prison Issu Blue, standing between Gale and her husband Pierre, 408 00:25:02,880 --> 00:25:05,560 Speaker 1: who also goes by the nickname Pete. The three are 409 00:25:05,680 --> 00:25:08,080 Speaker 1: arm in arms, smiling at the camera, in front of 410 00:25:08,119 --> 00:25:12,480 Speaker 1: the photo backdrop of a slightly tropical sunsetting sky. Above 411 00:25:12,520 --> 00:25:14,880 Speaker 1: them is a string of glittery paper hearts that looks 412 00:25:14,960 --> 00:25:17,679 Speaker 1: like it would be more at home in an elementary 413 00:25:17,720 --> 00:25:21,959 Speaker 1: school than a prison. Chris sports symmetrical features, a shaved 414 00:25:21,960 --> 00:25:25,400 Speaker 1: head and a slim trim goatee. He's a pretty balanced 415 00:25:25,440 --> 00:25:28,240 Speaker 1: mixture of his parents, with a scale tilted maybe the 416 00:25:28,320 --> 00:25:31,680 Speaker 1: slightest bit towards his mother. Chris shares her defined jaw 417 00:25:32,119 --> 00:25:34,680 Speaker 1: and like hers. His eyes are lighter than Pierre's dark 418 00:25:34,720 --> 00:25:38,080 Speaker 1: brown ones, but almost identical in shape to his dad's. 419 00:25:38,840 --> 00:25:42,160 Speaker 1: Both parents are wearing similar plaid flannel shirts, have salt 420 00:25:42,200 --> 00:25:45,840 Speaker 1: and pepper shades of hair, and the same expression, a 421 00:25:45,920 --> 00:25:51,200 Speaker 1: combination of happiness, vulnerability, and weariness. They're visiting a son 422 00:25:51,359 --> 00:25:54,720 Speaker 1: sentenced to life for killing their three grandchildren and daughter 423 00:25:54,760 --> 00:25:57,879 Speaker 1: in law. The look in all their eyes is at 424 00:25:57,880 --> 00:26:03,280 Speaker 1: odds with the smiles beneath them. Pierre, Yes, Hey, it's Lauren. 425 00:26:04,000 --> 00:26:04,879 Speaker 5: Hi, Lauren, how are you. 426 00:26:05,200 --> 00:26:08,240 Speaker 1: I'm fine. Gail told me to call this number. Pierre 427 00:26:08,320 --> 00:26:11,800 Speaker 1: Bond shares his wife Gail's belief in Chris's innocence, but 428 00:26:11,920 --> 00:26:14,959 Speaker 1: it's tampered with a bit more anger in cynicism. 429 00:26:15,800 --> 00:26:20,399 Speaker 15: He was convicted before he even started. My son was 430 00:26:20,960 --> 00:26:27,800 Speaker 15: presumed guilty immediately. They took him after he was treated 431 00:26:28,400 --> 00:26:32,560 Speaker 15: for being shot. They took him immediately from the hospital 432 00:26:33,359 --> 00:26:38,159 Speaker 15: to the police station, and the police were relentless and 433 00:26:39,280 --> 00:26:45,520 Speaker 15: pursuing him and persuading him and lying to him to 434 00:26:45,600 --> 00:26:48,639 Speaker 15: get him to confess. And he never did do that, 435 00:26:49,800 --> 00:26:52,720 Speaker 15: and that was never brought up in the trial. My 436 00:26:52,880 --> 00:26:58,840 Speaker 15: son who was shot, his family was killed, and he 437 00:26:58,960 --> 00:27:03,760 Speaker 15: lost everything and nobody stopped to think about, you know, 438 00:27:03,960 --> 00:27:06,159 Speaker 15: wait a minute, what if he did not do this? 439 00:27:06,800 --> 00:27:09,280 Speaker 1: So you don't feel that Chris got a proper defense. 440 00:27:10,119 --> 00:27:12,520 Speaker 5: Absolutely not, absolutely not. 441 00:27:13,359 --> 00:27:16,560 Speaker 1: When I first started speaking with Chris Vaughn's parents, Pierre 442 00:27:16,720 --> 00:27:19,720 Speaker 1: was transitioning towards retirement and the couple was in the 443 00:27:19,800 --> 00:27:22,119 Speaker 1: process of moving to the last home they planned to 444 00:27:22,200 --> 00:27:24,720 Speaker 1: live in, one that includes a room for Chris. 445 00:27:25,520 --> 00:27:26,560 Speaker 2: My son did not do this. 446 00:27:28,440 --> 00:27:29,640 Speaker 11: He needs to come home. 447 00:27:30,520 --> 00:27:33,520 Speaker 1: It's not surprising that parents would believe in the innocence 448 00:27:33,560 --> 00:27:36,760 Speaker 1: of their own child. Gale and Pierre's printal allegiance and 449 00:27:36,840 --> 00:27:40,880 Speaker 1: optimism aside, the process of revisiting the conviction of Christopher 450 00:27:40,960 --> 00:27:44,920 Speaker 1: Vaughan is daunting. According to Bill Clutter, these. 451 00:27:45,000 --> 00:27:50,040 Speaker 2: Cases are an uphill climb, even when you have newly 452 00:27:50,160 --> 00:27:53,840 Speaker 2: discovered evidence that just blows the doors off the conviction. 453 00:27:54,400 --> 00:27:57,399 Speaker 2: These are hard cases, and you're always going to get 454 00:27:57,480 --> 00:28:01,240 Speaker 2: pushed back on some level, and especially at the lower court, 455 00:28:01,600 --> 00:28:03,960 Speaker 2: the court where the case original, you're always going to 456 00:28:04,160 --> 00:28:05,920 Speaker 2: push back when you go back there. 457 00:28:06,800 --> 00:28:10,080 Speaker 1: I did reach out to the office of James W. Glasgow, 458 00:28:10,520 --> 00:28:14,119 Speaker 1: the will County States attorney who mounted the case against Vaughn. 459 00:28:14,840 --> 00:28:19,720 Speaker 1: Glasgow's website sports his polished mustachioed photo which calls to 460 00:28:19,760 --> 00:28:22,760 Speaker 1: mind a more Hollywood version of Mike Ditka, and a 461 00:28:22,960 --> 00:28:27,080 Speaker 1: lengthy list of his accomplishments during an unprecedented seven terms 462 00:28:27,400 --> 00:28:31,600 Speaker 1: as Will County State's attorney. Prominently featured is that Glasgow 463 00:28:31,840 --> 00:28:36,120 Speaker 1: quote successfully prosecuted Christopher Vaughan and secured a life sentence 464 00:28:36,160 --> 00:28:39,320 Speaker 1: for the murder of his wife and three children unquote. 465 00:28:40,120 --> 00:28:44,240 Speaker 1: Vaughan is second in billing to another career highlight convicting 466 00:28:44,360 --> 00:28:49,560 Speaker 1: wife killing cop Drew Peterson, listed as quote a landmark 467 00:28:49,680 --> 00:28:56,080 Speaker 1: case that attracted international attention unquote. While Glasgow's office politely 468 00:28:56,120 --> 00:28:59,440 Speaker 1: declined our request for a formal interview, they did share 469 00:28:59,560 --> 00:29:02,800 Speaker 1: the close using arguments for the people of Illinois versus 470 00:29:02,960 --> 00:29:07,560 Speaker 1: Christopher Vaughan and the impressive PowerPoint presentation that accompanied it. 471 00:29:08,280 --> 00:29:11,720 Speaker 1: It's quite thorough and was obviously successful in terms of 472 00:29:11,840 --> 00:29:15,440 Speaker 1: swaying the jury to convict, but Bill Clutter contends it 473 00:29:15,560 --> 00:29:17,600 Speaker 1: was built on a problematic foundation. 474 00:29:18,520 --> 00:29:21,720 Speaker 2: There was this snap judgment that he did it. This 475 00:29:21,920 --> 00:29:26,000 Speaker 2: happened early in the morning on June fourteenth, two thousand 476 00:29:26,000 --> 00:29:29,920 Speaker 2: and seven. There was a three day period where he 477 00:29:30,160 --> 00:29:35,479 Speaker 2: was interrogated by police. It was shortly after that, as 478 00:29:35,600 --> 00:29:39,360 Speaker 2: he was preparing to attend the funeral of his family 479 00:29:39,440 --> 00:29:43,200 Speaker 2: in Saint Louis, that handcuffs were placed on him and 480 00:29:43,360 --> 00:29:47,920 Speaker 2: he was whisked away, taken to Joliet. And he hasn't 481 00:29:47,960 --> 00:29:50,680 Speaker 2: seen the light of day since. There was a rush 482 00:29:50,760 --> 00:29:55,280 Speaker 2: to judgment, and we didn't realize the extent of the 483 00:29:55,400 --> 00:30:00,640 Speaker 2: tunnel vision until we started taking depositions. You know, none 484 00:30:00,680 --> 00:30:04,880 Speaker 2: of their theories of how this happened fit the crime 485 00:30:04,960 --> 00:30:05,680 Speaker 2: scene evidence. 486 00:30:09,120 --> 00:30:12,400 Speaker 1: Clutter's convinced he can mount a post conviction case that 487 00:30:12,520 --> 00:30:13,760 Speaker 1: can clear Christopher Vaughan. 488 00:30:14,200 --> 00:30:20,400 Speaker 2: If you just analyze the evidence in the case without 489 00:30:20,800 --> 00:30:25,440 Speaker 2: these blinders of emotion and prejudice, it's a pretty clear 490 00:30:25,560 --> 00:30:27,600 Speaker 2: case of actual innocence. 491 00:30:28,560 --> 00:30:32,240 Speaker 1: Attorney Keith Altman agrees like Clutter, he was involved in 492 00:30:32,320 --> 00:30:35,800 Speaker 1: Vaughn's initial defense team, but as an expert, will dive 493 00:30:35,920 --> 00:30:38,200 Speaker 1: more deeply into that in future episodes. 494 00:30:38,560 --> 00:30:44,520 Speaker 5: I believe that Chris did not get the defense that 495 00:30:45,360 --> 00:30:49,640 Speaker 5: his case demanded once the death penalty was taken off 496 00:30:49,640 --> 00:30:51,560 Speaker 5: the table in the state stoped funding his defense. 497 00:30:52,480 --> 00:30:57,560 Speaker 1: Altman is referencing that Democratic Governor Pat Quinn signed legislation 498 00:30:57,800 --> 00:31:01,680 Speaker 1: on March ninth, twenty eleven, to abolish the death penalty 499 00:31:01,840 --> 00:31:06,040 Speaker 1: in Illinois. It went into effect on July first, twenty eleven, 500 00:31:06,480 --> 00:31:09,400 Speaker 1: and with it went the funding for the impressive team 501 00:31:09,800 --> 00:31:12,640 Speaker 1: who'd been mounting their defense of Vaughn for the past 502 00:31:12,760 --> 00:31:15,800 Speaker 1: four years. And this happened a little more than a 503 00:31:15,960 --> 00:31:17,280 Speaker 1: year before his trial. 504 00:31:17,840 --> 00:31:21,360 Speaker 5: When Chris was under the threat of the death penalty, 505 00:31:22,120 --> 00:31:26,280 Speaker 5: the state of Illinois ensured that he received the best 506 00:31:26,320 --> 00:31:30,200 Speaker 5: possible success. Between the attorneys who were involved, who were superb. 507 00:31:31,160 --> 00:31:35,800 Speaker 5: I was able to bring one of the top experts 508 00:31:35,880 --> 00:31:39,320 Speaker 5: in the world on psychiatric adverse events of drugs and 509 00:31:39,560 --> 00:31:43,880 Speaker 5: work in support of him, David Healy. The ballistics that 510 00:31:43,960 --> 00:31:49,320 Speaker 5: they had were world class. As soon as the death 511 00:31:49,360 --> 00:31:54,480 Speaker 5: penalty was taken off the table, the public defender abandoned 512 00:31:55,080 --> 00:31:57,560 Speaker 5: all the work that we had done, never called any 513 00:31:57,600 --> 00:32:00,400 Speaker 5: of us, never did anything with any of us, and 514 00:32:00,840 --> 00:32:08,000 Speaker 5: never really gave Chris his proper dude. And so it 515 00:32:08,200 --> 00:32:09,520 Speaker 5: just bothers me to the day. 516 00:32:10,440 --> 00:32:15,200 Speaker 1: Altman's online profile is accompanied by burly, pleasantly smiling photo, 517 00:32:15,760 --> 00:32:18,240 Speaker 1: but his record's a little more pitfull than Teddy Bear. 518 00:32:18,840 --> 00:32:22,200 Speaker 1: He led a series of potentially precedent setting lawsuits against 519 00:32:22,200 --> 00:32:25,440 Speaker 1: some of the world's most powerful social media companies, an 520 00:32:25,480 --> 00:32:29,000 Speaker 1: effort to hold them accountable for allowing terrorists to radicalize 521 00:32:29,040 --> 00:32:33,280 Speaker 1: people through social media channels. He maintains that same fierceness 522 00:32:33,400 --> 00:32:35,200 Speaker 1: in his belief of Chris Vaughn's innocence. 523 00:32:35,880 --> 00:32:39,560 Speaker 5: Chris's case haunts me because, between me and the other experts, 524 00:32:40,440 --> 00:32:42,920 Speaker 5: I believe you had a very strong presentation of evidence 525 00:32:44,240 --> 00:32:49,440 Speaker 5: vindicating Chris, and unfortunately the circumstances of the death felt 526 00:32:49,440 --> 00:32:52,000 Speaker 5: to be taken off the table meant he did not 527 00:32:52,120 --> 00:32:56,360 Speaker 5: have access to those resources. And you know, I believe 528 00:32:56,440 --> 00:32:59,080 Speaker 5: that the truth should come out, and I don't think 529 00:32:59,120 --> 00:33:01,360 Speaker 5: he taught the justice that he deserved. 530 00:33:20,320 --> 00:33:23,760 Speaker 1: In twenty eleven, Christopher Vaughan was left with a public 531 00:33:23,800 --> 00:33:26,440 Speaker 1: defender who had just over a year to get up 532 00:33:26,440 --> 00:33:29,320 Speaker 1: to speed for the trial. Here's Bill Clutter again. 533 00:33:29,920 --> 00:33:32,560 Speaker 2: That's the thing that bothers me most of all is 534 00:33:32,600 --> 00:33:35,000 Speaker 2: that you had these reforms that were put in place 535 00:33:35,080 --> 00:33:38,400 Speaker 2: to guard against an innocent person facing the death penalty 536 00:33:38,640 --> 00:33:42,880 Speaker 2: from being convicted. But then you become vulnerable once a 537 00:33:42,960 --> 00:33:46,120 Speaker 2: decision is made not to seek the death penalty, you're 538 00:33:46,200 --> 00:33:50,520 Speaker 2: stripped of all those resources intended to prevent a miscarriage 539 00:33:50,520 --> 00:33:51,360 Speaker 2: of justice. 540 00:33:51,840 --> 00:33:53,880 Speaker 1: And he's used up all his appeals. 541 00:33:54,600 --> 00:33:57,840 Speaker 2: He had his direct appeal and there was no appeal 542 00:33:57,920 --> 00:34:00,600 Speaker 2: to that. Right now, the only way for him to 543 00:34:01,640 --> 00:34:06,120 Speaker 2: be free is to prove actual innocence. And that's a 544 00:34:06,200 --> 00:34:09,080 Speaker 2: hard road. That's a very hard road. 545 00:34:10,000 --> 00:34:13,360 Speaker 1: It's a road that journalist Erica Worst isn't entirely convinced 546 00:34:13,440 --> 00:34:15,200 Speaker 1: we should be setting out on at all. 547 00:34:15,719 --> 00:34:22,640 Speaker 8: Christopher had a plan. I feel like he executed that plan, 548 00:34:22,960 --> 00:34:25,880 Speaker 8: and I feel like it didn't go the way he 549 00:34:26,000 --> 00:34:26,360 Speaker 8: wanted to. 550 00:34:27,239 --> 00:34:31,200 Speaker 1: What do you think was his plan then? In other words, 551 00:34:31,280 --> 00:34:33,920 Speaker 1: what did he hope would happen that it would be 552 00:34:34,040 --> 00:34:37,040 Speaker 1: viewed as murder suicide? 553 00:34:37,480 --> 00:34:39,960 Speaker 4: Yeah, he wanted it to be viewed as murder suicide 554 00:34:39,960 --> 00:34:44,000 Speaker 4: one hundred percent. And then you know what, oh four 555 00:34:44,080 --> 00:34:46,880 Speaker 4: weeks later less than that, I don't know. He's getting 556 00:34:46,920 --> 00:34:48,200 Speaker 4: her life insurance money. 557 00:34:48,840 --> 00:34:51,160 Speaker 8: He basically he has said, this isn't the life I 558 00:34:51,200 --> 00:34:53,160 Speaker 8: want to live. This isn't the life I want to live, 559 00:34:53,680 --> 00:34:54,640 Speaker 8: This isn't the life for me. 560 00:34:55,440 --> 00:34:59,680 Speaker 1: Worst also takes issue with any scenario that places Chris 561 00:35:00,280 --> 00:35:01,560 Speaker 1: as a possible victim. 562 00:35:02,000 --> 00:35:06,160 Speaker 4: How does he get out of that car and go 563 00:35:06,360 --> 00:35:08,719 Speaker 4: running for help leaving him in there with a gun 564 00:35:08,920 --> 00:35:09,760 Speaker 4: and the three kids. 565 00:35:09,960 --> 00:35:10,880 Speaker 8: No one would do that. 566 00:35:11,800 --> 00:35:16,680 Speaker 1: He says that he has no recollection whatsoever of that. 567 00:35:17,120 --> 00:35:18,640 Speaker 1: If that is true, you know. 568 00:35:18,760 --> 00:35:21,960 Speaker 16: He's in a duel kind of prison, right he doesn't 569 00:35:22,040 --> 00:35:24,840 Speaker 16: know what happened, whether or not he was holding the 570 00:35:24,880 --> 00:35:27,480 Speaker 16: gun or not. If he really doesn't remember, if he 571 00:35:27,600 --> 00:35:29,160 Speaker 16: had some kind of a break. 572 00:35:29,800 --> 00:35:32,960 Speaker 8: Then why the first thing he says when he stumbles 573 00:35:33,040 --> 00:35:36,840 Speaker 8: upon guy on the street, you. 574 00:35:36,880 --> 00:35:40,000 Speaker 4: Know, after he had been shot, Why does he say, 575 00:35:40,120 --> 00:35:44,799 Speaker 4: my wife shot me like immediate? That's an immediate you're 576 00:35:44,920 --> 00:35:47,400 Speaker 4: giving a statement immediately after occurred. 577 00:35:48,040 --> 00:35:50,120 Speaker 8: If he's saying he got out of the car and 578 00:35:50,239 --> 00:35:51,720 Speaker 8: he didn't see anyone else. 579 00:35:51,560 --> 00:35:55,479 Speaker 4: Get shot, why is he in such a disassociated state 580 00:35:55,800 --> 00:35:58,239 Speaker 4: just from being shot in the wrist and the legs? 581 00:35:58,280 --> 00:36:03,000 Speaker 8: Superficially I caused the break in him. My husband is 582 00:36:03,120 --> 00:36:06,280 Speaker 8: not an aggressive person or anything of that nature. 583 00:36:07,760 --> 00:36:09,839 Speaker 4: But you better believe he'd go to bat for us 584 00:36:10,600 --> 00:36:12,719 Speaker 4: if something like that had happened, and not just get 585 00:36:12,760 --> 00:36:14,400 Speaker 4: out of the car and walk away. 586 00:36:15,080 --> 00:36:19,319 Speaker 1: In other words, how do you walk away if your 587 00:36:19,480 --> 00:36:23,360 Speaker 1: kids have been shot or haven't been shot? How do 588 00:36:23,480 --> 00:36:23,880 Speaker 1: you leave it? 589 00:36:24,600 --> 00:36:25,080 Speaker 9: You don't? 590 00:36:25,280 --> 00:36:26,920 Speaker 8: I mean There's so many. 591 00:36:28,440 --> 00:36:37,560 Speaker 4: Unknowns which will probably remain unknown, but the state put together. 592 00:36:38,920 --> 00:36:43,120 Speaker 8: Enough of a case to get that verdict they wanted. 593 00:36:43,520 --> 00:36:50,160 Speaker 1: A verdict worst agreed with then and now I believe. 594 00:36:51,080 --> 00:36:57,560 Speaker 10: Where ninety eight point nine percent shorty that christ were 595 00:36:57,600 --> 00:37:02,960 Speaker 10: gone so early and this was. 596 00:37:05,600 --> 00:37:06,440 Speaker 8: Open and shut. 597 00:37:06,880 --> 00:37:11,640 Speaker 10: And I know you guys are looking into Chris's innocence, 598 00:37:11,840 --> 00:37:17,360 Speaker 10: and I think everyone deserves that chance. I'm just going 599 00:37:17,440 --> 00:37:21,239 Speaker 10: to be really interested to see what you guys are 600 00:37:21,400 --> 00:37:27,520 Speaker 10: finding that I may have missed during every single day 601 00:37:27,560 --> 00:37:28,240 Speaker 10: of that trial. 602 00:37:34,239 --> 00:37:37,800 Speaker 1: There is much more to this tragedy than the brutal 603 00:37:37,880 --> 00:37:40,600 Speaker 1: horror that unfolded in that red SUV in two thousand 604 00:37:40,600 --> 00:37:45,960 Speaker 1: and seven, including dysfunctional family dynamics, a troubled marriage, deception 605 00:37:46,360 --> 00:37:50,160 Speaker 1: and betrayal. As we set out on this path, it's 606 00:37:50,239 --> 00:37:53,720 Speaker 1: with the acknowledgment that on many levels, at many times, 607 00:37:53,880 --> 00:37:57,720 Speaker 1: it may be polarizing. This was an absolutely horrific event, 608 00:37:58,320 --> 00:38:01,239 Speaker 1: and we intend to cover it with in tech and sensitivity, 609 00:38:01,920 --> 00:38:05,080 Speaker 1: but we also understand revisiting it at all is painful 610 00:38:05,160 --> 00:38:08,279 Speaker 1: for many of the parties involved, especially for those close 611 00:38:08,360 --> 00:38:11,239 Speaker 1: to Kimberley Vaughan. While to date her family has not 612 00:38:11,360 --> 00:38:14,719 Speaker 1: responded to our multiple requests for an interview. We hope 613 00:38:14,760 --> 00:38:18,600 Speaker 1: they will reconsider It is not our intention to disparage 614 00:38:18,640 --> 00:38:22,280 Speaker 1: anyone living or dead. It's to re examine a case 615 00:38:22,360 --> 00:38:25,880 Speaker 1: that's been tightly closed, to shed light on whether Christopher 616 00:38:25,960 --> 00:38:30,640 Speaker 1: Vaughan was justly charged, tried, and convicted, and explore whether 617 00:38:30,800 --> 00:38:34,759 Speaker 1: pertinent facts and later developments that could have been utilized 618 00:38:34,760 --> 00:38:39,600 Speaker 1: in his defense were overlooked or ignored. What happened in 619 00:38:39,640 --> 00:38:44,319 Speaker 1: the Vaughan family's suv was unfathomable. Three innocent children died 620 00:38:44,400 --> 00:38:46,120 Speaker 1: facing a gun that was held by one of the 621 00:38:46,200 --> 00:38:49,320 Speaker 1: last people they ever thought would harm them. But the 622 00:38:49,440 --> 00:38:52,200 Speaker 1: only thing that could make this tragedy any more disturbing 623 00:38:52,800 --> 00:38:55,840 Speaker 1: is the possibility that the man serving life sentences for 624 00:38:55,920 --> 00:39:00,239 Speaker 1: having taken those lives didn't actually commit the murders. That 625 00:39:00,440 --> 00:39:04,000 Speaker 1: is the possibility we'll explore, and in the process uncover 626 00:39:04,239 --> 00:39:09,720 Speaker 1: answers to questions deemed mysteries for fourteen years. This season 627 00:39:10,239 --> 00:39:19,800 Speaker 1: of Murder in Illinois came do say good. 628 00:39:19,760 --> 00:39:28,040 Speaker 3: Things well, I think cann. 629 00:39:30,160 --> 00:39:34,080 Speaker 1: On our next episode, we'll explore the upbringing and marriage 630 00:39:34,360 --> 00:39:36,799 Speaker 1: of the man who had become one of Illinois's most 631 00:39:36,920 --> 00:39:41,279 Speaker 1: vilified fathers and the intricate dynamics that led to a 632 00:39:41,440 --> 00:39:42,560 Speaker 1: horrific tragedy. 633 00:39:43,400 --> 00:39:45,440 Speaker 11: He was just instantly smitten with her. 634 00:39:45,560 --> 00:39:47,840 Speaker 8: I mean it was just a clique. 635 00:39:48,520 --> 00:39:49,839 Speaker 15: They really had nothing in common. 636 00:39:51,200 --> 00:39:53,799 Speaker 1: Did you ever think in a million years that Chris 637 00:39:53,840 --> 00:39:56,480 Speaker 1: would come home from college and tell you guys he 638 00:39:56,560 --> 00:39:57,200 Speaker 1: was getting married. 639 00:39:58,160 --> 00:40:02,160 Speaker 5: No, when they got to the point of the pastor 640 00:40:02,440 --> 00:40:06,279 Speaker 5: said if anybody has objections, please say so now, and 641 00:40:06,400 --> 00:40:07,400 Speaker 5: then lightning struck. 642 00:40:08,400 --> 00:40:09,440 Speaker 2: That was a little awkward. 643 00:40:13,280 --> 00:40:21,680 Speaker 3: Belloy you cry, Gage. 644 00:40:22,320 --> 00:41:00,960 Speaker 1: Beard Brown, Hard Murder and Illinois. Product of My Heart Radio. 645 00:41:01,760 --> 00:41:06,080 Speaker 1: Executive producers are Lauren Bright Pacheco and Taylor Chackoine. Written 646 00:41:06,120 --> 00:41:09,920 Speaker 1: by Lauren Bright Pacheco and Matthew Riddle, Story editing by 647 00:41:10,000 --> 00:41:14,160 Speaker 1: Matthew Riddle, editing and sound design by Evan Tyre and 648 00:41:14,320 --> 00:41:19,040 Speaker 1: Taylor Chakoye. Featuring music by Cicada Rhythm with new compositions 649 00:41:19,440 --> 00:41:23,160 Speaker 1: engineered and mixed by Evan Tyre and Taylor Chakoine. Archive 650 00:41:23,239 --> 00:41:31,520 Speaker 1: news reports provided by w g N. For more podcasts 651 00:41:31,560 --> 00:41:36,080 Speaker 1: from iHeartRadio, check out the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or 652 00:41:36,160 --> 00:41:38,480 Speaker 1: wherever you get the stories that matter to you.