Illinois Man Kills Family, In Part, For $1 Million in Life Insurance

Christopher Vaughn allegedly shot and killed his wife and three children in the family’s SUV on June 14, 2007. A passerby called police after seeing Vaughn injured and on the side of the road. Police on the scene found Vaughn’s wife and children murdered and Vaughn shot in the leg. Vaughn claims that his wife became ill on the way to a water park, and when Vaughn got out of the car to fix the luggage rack, she shot him.

Though his defense team claims that Vaughn’s wife shot the three children before shooting herself, evidence made public by Will County, Illinois judge Daniel Rozak may tell a different story.

Among the evidence is an article allegedly found in Vaughn’s home about staging a crime scene to look like a suicide. Evidence also shows that the night before the murders, Vaughn took the murder weapon to a firing range. Additionally, an exotic dancer’s statements, a $1 million life insurance policy on Vaughn’s wife, and posts Vaughn made online contribute to the now public evidence. If Vaughn is convicted of killing his wife and children, the state’s slayer statute will prevent him from receiving any of the life insurance proceeds.

Vaughn’s trial is currently on hold, but is expected to begin soon.

See Christopher Vaughn Had Article On Staging Murder In His Home: Accused Of Killing Wife, 3 Kids, Huffington Post, Jun. 28, 2011.

Special thanks to David S. Luber (Attorney at law, Florida Probate Attorney Wills and Estates Law Firm) for bringing this article to my attention.