Father Accused of Killing Family Prepares for Extradition Battle

Jun 25, 09:00 PM

Current Headlines: CHICAGO _ Christopher Vaughn _ the Oswego, Ill., man charged with the roadside fatal shootings of his wife and three children in rural Will County _ prepared Monday to battle his forced return from Missouri to face trial in Illinois, as officials in both states took extraordinary steps to quicken what is usually a routine but time-consuming process.

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed a warrant seeking the extradition of Vaughn, 32, about 2 p.m. CDT Monday, Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow said. Illinois State Police then flew the document to Jefferson City, Mo., for the approval of Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt, who signed the papers at 5:20 p.m. CDT and ordered them rushed to the St. Charles County sheriff's office.

Glasgow said such extradition requests typically are sent by mail or, in more significant cases, by overnight express. And it usually takes governors days, if not weeks, to sign off on them before they are sent, he added.

"I think this case speaks for itself," Glasgow said when asked why the extraordinary steps were being taken in the case, which has drawn national attention. "This is an extremely serious matter, and if he were arrested on this side of the Mississippi River, he would be in the process here right now."

Vaughn was arrested Saturday morning in St. Charles, Mo., as he arrived for the funeral and burial of his family: wife Kimberly, 34, and children Blake, 8, Cassandra, 11, and Abigayle, 12.

All were found dead early June 14 in the family's sport-utility vehicle off a frontage road near Interstate Highway 55 in Channahon Township. Kim was shot once in the head, sources said. Each of the children was shot twice.

They were found after Vaughn, who had minor gunshot wounds on his left wrist and left leg, flagged down a passing motorist and asked him to call 911.

In the initial hours, during which he was treated at a Joliet hospital and released, Vaughn said he pulled off I-55 because Kim felt sick, sources said. He said he got out to adjust the luggage rack and, while getting back in the SUV, noticed his leg was bleeding and went for help, the sources said.

Vaughn told authorities he could not remember what happened, and in the next three days submitted to three interviews with detectives at Illinois State Police District 5 headquarters.

Police initially declined to hold Vaughn and said he was free to attend his family's visitation Friday. That night, Glasgow and one of his top assistants reviewed the evidence, including recently returned forensic tests, physical evidence, video recordings of Vaughn interviews and the results of interviews with family, friends and neighbors.

Glasgow determined he had probable cause for an arrest, and obtained a no-bond warrant from Will County Chief Judge Stephen White for the arrest of Vaughn.

Despite that warrant, a St. Charles County judge Sunday set bail for Vaughn at $1 million cash. Glasgow said that was inappropriate because interstate agreements call for the denial of bail for individuals charged with crimes that carry a sentence of either life without parole or death.

At Glasgow's request, St. Charles Prosecutor Jack Banas on Monday asked a judge to change local orders to hold Vaughn without bail. "Interestingly, Chris Vaughn did not object to the revocation of his bond," Glasgow said.

A shackled Vaughn appeared in an orange jumpsuit, hair uncombed, for his arraignment on charges of being an out-of-state fugitive.

Capt. Scott Myers of the St. Charles County detention center said Vaughn was not being held in solitary confinement but remained "under continual observation."

"Any time you have anybody incarcerated for something this serious you have to have concerns for their well-being," Myers said.

After Blunt signed the extradition documents, he immediately ordered the Missouri Highway Patrol to deliver them to the St. Charles County sheriff's office, about 113 miles from the state capital, Monday night.

"This is a tragic and horrible case," Blunt said in a statement, adding that he and his wife were praying for those who mourn the Vaughn family, "whose senseless deaths have broken so many hearts. As governor, I have a duty to help bring the accused to justice."

Once the documents are in the hands of St. Charles County authorities, Vaughn can contest the extradition at a hearing, which could be scheduled as early as Tuesday but also could be days away, Glasgow said.

He said Vaughn could challenge extradition on two grounds: that he's not the person sought in the arrest warrant or that he was improperly arrested and detained.

In the first case, a photograph and fingerprints would quickly shoot down the argument, Glasgow said. In the second, long standing legal precedent will prove his arrest and detention were legal, he said.

David Waltrip, Vaughn's lawyer on the extradition issue, said late Monday that his client persists in his plans to fight extradition, but he could not say precisely how. "Until I see the documents from the State of Illinois I can't tell you exactly how I am going to respond," he said.

Richard Kling, a seasoned trial attorney and professor at Chicago-Kent College of Law, agreed with Glasgow's analysis of Vaughn's legal options and said extradition, between U.S. states as opposed to nations, rarely faces significant obstacles.

"In terms of the domestic 50 states, it's a real slam dunk, here's the paperwork," Kling said. "You can contest anything you want, but it's really a losing battle."

Even if Vaughn does not succeed at the trial level in fighting extradition, he would have the right to appeal a ruling against him, which would further delay his extradition, Glasgow said.

Meanwhile, Del and Susan Phillips, Kim's parents, have spent the past few days at home in St. Charles, finding places to live for the Vaughn family's two dogs, a golden retriever and schnauzer, and "getting acclimated to the pain that'll be lasting for a long time," said Deryl Botkin, a family friend.

Joe Jacobson, a spokesman for the family, said the Phillips hoped the media would now focus on the charges and trial process, rather than the family, "to help them to regain a measure of anonymity they had before these tragic events."

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