Posted on 03/29/2004 7:56:54 PM PST by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin
A man Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones said was suspect in Friday's triple homicide in the Beauregard community was found dead Sunday morning, killed by a gunshot would that appears to be self-inflicted. The Lee County Sheriff's Office received a call Sunday at 4:26 a.m. reporting a shooting in the Beauregard community. According to Jones, Bernard Vaughan, 69, was found by his wife in the backyard of his home at 900 Lee Road 401.
Scene conditions indicate that Vaughan died instantly of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, Jones said. A medium-caliber hand gun was found near the body. Vaughan was the property owner of 50 acres where William "Scooter" Stephens, 19, Jason Barr, 25, and Daniel Foster, 24, all of Beauregard, were shot and killed Friday afternoon after riding their four-wheel ATVs in the fields and woods at the 1100 block of Lee Road 401. Vaughan was interviewed by deputies Saturday and was a potential suspect for the murders, Jones said, adding that Vaughan is now the prime focus of the murder investigation.
"We interviewed Vaughan on Friday, just as we did others, and didn't consider him to be a suspect at that time," Jones said. "But after subsequent interviews on Saturday with others, we began to believe there may have been some connection there. That's when we questioned him again and had planned to investigate the things we learned." Jones said Vaughan left behind a suicide note, but said details of the note could not be disclosed until the investigation is complete. Vaughan may have been an acquaintance with the victims, Jones said, but a family member of one of the victims said they did not know Vaughan.
A motive for the shootings is still being investigated. Jones said it was obvious at the scene that the land had been used by those riding ATVs before. There was no indication that the victims were involved in any criminal activity on the property. Deputies retrieved a number of long rifles Sunday morning at Vaughan's home that are consistent with the weapon used at Friday's shootings. Jones said the young men were shot by a high-powered rifle and multiple shots were fired. He said until autopsy results are complete he couldn't list the nature of the wounds. Jones did say rumors that the killings were "execution style" were false based on the findings of investigators at the scene.
"I think now we may know the what, but we may never know the why," Jones said. "We had put hundreds of man hours on this, talking to everyone we thought might have a sliver of information. But the hardest thing was to tell those families that their loved ones were dead. "And then today, to tell them this latest development, it just doesn't offer much comfort. The circle of people this thing has touched is unbelievable. There aren't too many people who didn't know the kids or someone who did know them. I think everyone is hurting and will be for quite some time. They just kept asking today, 'why?'" Vaughan was well-known and well-respected in the community. Vaughan, who was a retired Army colonel, was active in the community and has been a resident of Beauregard for many years. He was a member of Opelika United Methodist Church and was once president of the Retired Officers Association.
"I've known Bernie Vaughan for years," Jones said. "He was a decent guy, something like this was totally out of character." Even though all fingers seem to point to Vaughan, Jones said investigators will continue to work the case until details are finalized. Vaughan's autopsy report, which will be ready this week, will confirm more details. The evidence of the apparent suicide is being submitted to the state crime lab for forensic analysis.
Then, authorities found Mr. Vaughan dead from an apparent suicide. Obviously, a lot more exists to this story that has not been revealed yet. It is a tragic event and shooting them wasn't the answer, but three of the four will not be trespassing and damaging someone else's land anymore. A lot of lessons can be gained from this whole sorry event. Perhaps everyone in the area will learn some of them.
Hello, Could you please look at this site. The boys were murdered....in my opinion .....by the L.C.S.O. and one mother is trying to prove it. Take a look and see the evidence for yourself.
Thank-you
Bayoubaby716
http://localnews.yourdesign2.com/ Then click on a search for the truth.
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