Christopher Vaughn guilty of killing wife, 3 children - Chicago Tribune

Vaughn, 37, was charged with killing his wife, Kimberly, 34, and their children, Abigayle, 12, Cassandra, 11, and Blake, 8, inside the Oswego family's Ford Expedition in 2007.

Members of Kimberly Vaughn's family cried softly as the verdict was read, but Crhistopher Vaughn showed no emotion, only rubbing his mouth with his right hand as the judge finished reading the guilty verdicts on four counts of first-degree murder.

Vaughn didn't say a word as he was shackled and led from the courtroom, as Kimberly's family embraced each other.

After the verdict authorities led the family to a different room down the hall for a moment of privacy.

The family issued a short statement thanking investigators for their hard work on the case.

David Butsch, an attorney and spokesman for Kimberly Vaughn's family, said the jury's quick verdict "speaks volumes" and offers some measure of closure to her parents, Del and Susan Phillips.

"They've been through a horrible ordeal, but they are people of faith, and that is what has gotten them through this," Butsch said.

He said Vaughn's claims that Kimberly was the killer "sort of added insult to injury." The family is still wondering how Vaughn could have committed such an unspeakable act.

"There are a lot of unanswered questions," Butsch said.

Chuck Pelkie, spokesman for Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow, said her family did not wish to speak to reporters. They were going to have dinner at a bar and grill across the street from the courthouse, he said.

The jury foreman, Dan Lachat, said in a brief news conference that there was no doubt in the jurors' minds of Vaughn's guilt, and they never even considered the defense argument that Vaughn's wife committed the murders.

He also said jurors were struck by Vaughn's lack of emotion during often gruesome testimony.

"If you watched (Vaughn) throughout the trial as we did, I think you'd come to the same conclusion," Lachat said.

Glasgow said the quickness of the jury's deliberations showed there was "little doubt in their mind" as to Vaughn's guilt.

He also said the case was one of the most brutal he'd seen.

"This case is not just a murder, it's an atrocity," Glasgow said in remarks outside the courthouse. "To annihilate your family -- I can't think of a more horrific crime."

"He'll spend the rest of his life staring at the cold walls of his prison cell, then he'll meet his maker for his real punishment," Glasgow said.

Vaughn faces a life sentence. The judge set sentencing for Nov. 26, the same date as sentencing for the defendant in another recent high-profile murder trial: Drew Peterson.