Deaths of Mom and Children Linked to Law and Order Episode

The Investigation Continues in the Murders of Kimberly Vaughn and Her 3 Children.

Izzy Brown
The Chicago Tribune is reporting that the investigation into the death of the Oswego mother Kimberly Vaughn and her children has taken a twist. If you will remember, Kimberly and her three children were found dead in their SUV along Interstate Highway 55 in rural Will county , after her husband had flagged down a passerby asking them to call 911, after being shot in the leg by his wife when got finished adjusting the vehicles luggage rack. Kimberly Vaughn died one of gun shot to the head, their children had been shot multiple times, Christopher Vaughn was said to have a minor gunshot injury to his thigh. An unidentified law enforcement official has been reported to say that the incident closely resembles a " Law and Order, SVU" episode aired on May 8th of this year. The particular episode involves a man that was leading a double life blaming his wife for the murder of their children before she took her own life in the show, the man also suffers from a minor gunshot wound and is later charged with the crime. A search was conducted to determine if anyone in the Vaughn family had watched the show.

Neighbors of the Vaughn family told the Chicago -Tribune, that they had seen the same four unmarked squad cars that canvassed the area shortly after the murders , arrive to search the home and had seen police remove something that appeared to be a TiVo or VCR. In a statement issued by the Illinois State Police they said they took "cable boxes, modems and additional computer-related attachments," from the home in a search that lasted from about 3:30 to 5 p.m.

This follows the initial search shortly after the family had been found, when the police had obtained a Will county search warrant that is now under seal. A gun and at least one cell phone were found in the SUV at the time of the murders.

Vaughn who works at a major Chicago consulting firm in the computer forensics section, reportedly has been questioned by police on three separate occasions, and police have not yet identified him as a suspect, but also have declined to say whether Kimberly's death was a murder or suicide. .

A funeral for Kimberly Vaughn and her children is scheduled this weekend in St. Charles, Mo. where the couple met.

By Hal Dardick and Gerry Smith, Tribune staff reporters, "TV show linked to search of home"
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-070620vaughn,1,482784.story?coll=chi-news-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true

Published by Izzy Brown

Izzy is a freelance writer with an opinon about everything and anything.   View profile

5 Comments

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  • Charlene Wohlhart 6/22/2007

    I agree with everyone here, update, the husband now is giving a different tale, it appears that he says they had contemplated divorce. My thought is this is getting crazy, divorce or seperation doesn't seem to be in the vocabulary anymore! Now the trend is just kill your spouse, my God!

  • Kay Whittenhauer 6/22/2007

    Very interesting article!

  • Kate J. 6/22/2007

    A tv show is obviously not to blame for this tragedy, only the sick freak who committed the crime. SVU is a very good, socially conscious tv show, that deals with relevant issues, so I hope it's not negatively affected in the ratings and crucified by the public opinion because of this case. It'd be unfair, as much as everyone needs a escape goat.

  • Donna Porter 6/21/2007

    Odd timing - Between your article and mine I'm thinking Law and Order is getting a sudden surge of negative press, though mine is about the game. Nice job.

  • A. Kairi 6/21/2007

    oh that's crazy!!! Its a tragic situation either way, but how awful if the man saw that episode and thought it would be a way to get away with it. the premeditated thought that would go in to that is horrible. good reporting.

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