Oct 18, 2007 9:55 pm US/Central
Evidence In Vaughn Case To Be Sealed
JOLIET, Ill. (Aurora Beacon News) ―
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Christopher Vaughn (back left) is accused of killing his wife and three children.
CBS
A Will County judge ruled Thursday that evidence passed from prosecutors to defense lawyers will be sealed in the murder case of Christopher Vaughn.
Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow asked that the evidence be sealed during the discovery process. Last month, Glasgow announced that prosecutors would seek the death penalty if Vaughn is convicted of charges that he murdered his wife and three children.
Lawyers for Vaughn, of Oswego, supported the motion to seal the evidence. Citing the agreement of both sides, Judge Dan Rozak then granted the request.
Prosecutors said they had passed at least 1,600 pages of documents to Vaughn's lawyers and that more evidence will be forthcoming. The evidence has also included CDs and DVDs.
Vaughn, 33, is facing four counts of murder in the deaths of Kimberly Vaughn, 34, and their children, Abigayle, 12, Cassandra, 11, and Blake, 8. Early in the morning of June 14, their bodies were found in the family's SUV on a frontage road in Channahon Township.
In a second ruling, Rozak denied a motion by Glasgow to order Vaughn to submit to a urine test as a sample requested by doctors at the Will County Jail. Vaughn's lawyers opposed the motion, saying he opposed the request.
Prosecutors say Vaughn's weight has dropped from about 180 pounds in July to about 140 pounds. Rozak, who first saw Vaughn in court in late August, noted the change in Vaughn's physical appearance and said he would be willing to reconsider the issue.
Vaughn was arrested in the suburbs of St. Louis just before the funeral of his wife and children. About 10 days later, he dropped his fight against extradition from Missouri to Illinois and he arrived at the county jail on July 3.
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