Ex-Stripper Testifies At Vaughn Murder Trial
JOLIET, Ill. (AP) -- A former stripper testified Tuesday that Christopher Vaughn, accused of murdering his family five years ago, told her he wanted to leave his wife, but never mentioned he had children.
Maya Drake testified at Vaugn's murder trial in Will County. Vaughn is charged with killing his wife and three children in June 2007. Drake said Vaughn, of Oswego, visited her at a Chicago club and told her he wanted to move to Canada.
The jury also heard from FBI forensic examiner Scott Hull, who showed them some of the more than 140 encrypted messages he said Vaughn wrote in a journal while in jail. In the journal, Vaughn talked about his life and the outside world. But Hull said Vaughn never mentioned his wife or kids.
Vaughn's attorneys say his wife, Kimberly, committed the crimes because she was distraught over marriage troubles. The family was found shot to death in an SUV.
Maya Drake said she had met with Vaughn four or five times, during which he mentioned his wife of more than 10 years, but did not mention his children. Drake said Vaughn told her he wasn't happy in his marriage. She said he seemed upset during one visit when he said his wife spent $5,000 on curtains.
The stripper also testified Vaughn never asked her to dance for him, but did spend time with her in the club's VIP room. The two talked about the outdoors and poetry.
Drake said Vaughn never asked her to move to Canada with him, but had stated that his intention was to leave his wife.
"He said she was going to get everything," Drake testified. "He said she was going to get what she deserved. She wasn't going to see it coming."
Drake went to police after she recognized Vaughn's name and face on the news in June 2007. She said she "immediately" recognized him as the man she had met at the club.
Hull said Vaughn's writings while in jail were "musings, some daily event items, just kind of a journal."
"This journal will serve as a written daily meditation," Hull said, quoting the journal. "The ups and down, feelings and thoughts and lessons of each day."
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