YORK COUNTY, S.C. — Evan Hawthorne was found guilty of murdering retired Rock Hill police lieutenant Larry Vaughan by a jury in York County on Tuesday afternoon.
Judge Keith Kelly sentenced Hawthorne to life in prison following the verdict.
The jury reached its decision after hearing closing arguments from both the prosecution and defense at Moss Justice Center earlier in the day.
Vaughan was found dead in his apartment on July 23, 2021, with blunt force trauma to the head and neck, and signs of strangulation.
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Assistant Solicitor Spenser Smith argued that Hawthorne murdered Vaughan, presenting evidence of aggression and malice.
Defense attorney Todd Rutherford contended that Hawthorne acted in self-defense during an altercation with Vaughan.
On the night of the incident, Vaughan and Hawthorne met at Tattooed Brews, a bar near Vaughan’s apartment, and bonded over their shared experiences in law enforcement.
Hawthorne mentioned in his interview that he and Vaughan argued about PTSD, but the details of how the confrontation escalated were disputed in court.
Smith described how Hawthorne followed Vaughan to his apartment and attacked him, biting off the tip of Vaughan’s thumb during the struggle.
He emphasized that Hawthorne’s actions, including leaving Vaughan without calling for help, demonstrated malice.
Rutherford argued that Vaughan attacked Hawthorne in a bathroom, and Hawthorne defended himself against Vaughan, who was larger and had a knife in his pocket.
Rutherford criticized the investigation, suggesting bias due to Vaughan’s connections with law enforcement and questioning the handling of evidence.
The verdict brings closure to Vaughan’s family, who expressed emotional reactions in the courtroom upon hearing the decision.
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