In a story illustrating what can go wrong when tensions run high during a divorce, the Chicago Sun-Times reported on a Niles resident who allegedly shot his estranged wife before turning the .32 caliber pistol on himself. Gregory Vaughn was found dead from a gunshot wound to his head, while wife Amy Vaughn was reportedly listed in "stable" condition.
Police told reporters they received a 911 call from a neighbor who heard gunshots, only to find the body of Mr. Vaughn next to his wife's car. Police say they found Mrs. Vaughn yelling for help in the driver's seat of her car with a gunshot wound to her face.
She told police she had been staying with a relative in Northbrook while she and Mr. Vaughn were going through the process of divorce.
Mrs. Vaughn reportedly arrived at her house to pick up her three children for visitation when she was confronted by her estranged husband, who had custody of their children throughout the separation. He allegedly fired his gun after she lowered her car window, wounding her left cheek.
Mrs. Vaughn's two daughters, ages 16 and 11, and 13-year-old son were staying with a relative while their mother is recovering in the hospital from her wound. Niles police Sgt. Tom Davis told reporters the children's exposure to the violence likely was limited:
"I do not believe they witnessed [the shooting], but they were in the home."
While it was a separate incident, it's important to point out that Mrs. Vaughn was charged with domestic battery on Jan. 22, as reported in the police blotter section of the Niles Herald-Spectator. No further details of that arrest were publicly available.
Related Resources:
- Child Visitation FAQ (FindLaw)
- More Fathers Awarded Primary Child Custody Following Divorce (FindLaw KnowledgeBase)
- Directory of Divorce Attorneys in Chicago (FindLaw)
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