James Seidel 
Family of Larry Vaughan Finds Closure as Hawthorne Gets Life
By James Seidel | CC News Network
ROCK HILL, S.C. — Family of Larry Vaughan Finds Closure as Hawthorne Gets Life. Tears, anger, and pleas for justice filled a York County courtroom Tuesday as Evan Hawthorne was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of retired Rock Hill police lieutenant Larry Vaughan, who was killed after a downtown bar fight in 2020.
The Crime
Evan Hawthorne, a former Chester County deputy, was arrested in connection with the July 23, 2021 killing of retired Rock Hill Police Lieutenant Larry Vaughan. Authorities say Vaughan was found dead inside his apartment at the Anderson Apartments in downtown Rock Hill, suffering blunt-force trauma and strangulation. Investigators allege a drunken Hawthorne followed an also drunk, Vaughan from a nearby bar—Tattooed Brews—after the two had spent time drinking and later bonded over their shared law enforcement backgrounds. However, video from inside and outside the bar show a different story. Hawthorne was taken into custody the next day while buying beer and ultimately charged with murder.
Larry Vaughan: A Mother’s Grief
Vaughan’s mother described her son as a man of “love, honor and character” — a devoted son who excelled at sports and cherished his family. She told jurors and the judge that Vaughan himself had named his sister before she was born, and their bond was unlike any other.
“The good Lord blessed us with a jury who listened to the evidence,” she said. “After four years, we have justice.”
Her voice broke as she recalled how her granddaughter first told her that Vaughan had been murdered. “You can’t imagine the disbelief,” she said. “It ripped my heart out and stomped on it.”
She thanked the judge, police officers, and community members who supported her family through the long trial. “I won’t even get to see my son again. But I’m not mad at God. He’s got a plan. It’s time for Larry to get justice.”
Larry Vaughan: A Sister’s Loss
Lori Williams, Vaughan’s sister, said her life will never be the same. “There’s a special bond between a sister and her brother,” she said, recalling how she mirrored Vaughan in everything from hobbies to beer drinking.
She stopped drinking six years ago, a choice her brother celebrated. “I don’t know who I am without him,” Williams said. “He was my therapist, my confidante, my secret keeper.”
She shared her anger and sadness that her mother never got to say goodbye, that Vaughan’s daughters will not have their father to walk them down the aisle, and that her last memory of her brother is holding his hand in a funeral home. “This world was a better place with Larry in it. Our hearts have a hole that will never heal,” she told the court, asking Judge Kelly to impose the maximum penalty.
Daughter of Larry Vaughan and Rock Hill Police Chief Speak Out
Rock Hill Police Chief Chris Watts honored Vaughan’s service, calling him one of the finest officers to ever wear the badge. “Larry served with honor. He would lay his life down for anyone,” Watts said. “Larry’s death wasn’t an accident — it was vicious.” A memorable moment throughout the pain was when Chief Watts turned directly to Vaughn’s two daughters and declared that their father was a hero.
One of Vaughan’s daughters also addressed the court for her mom and sister, though much of her statement was inaudible. She described her father as a “girl dad” who once painted his fingernails alongside his daughters and then forgot to remove the polish before work. “He was a good dad,” she said, her voice cracking.
Defense Appeals for Leniency
Hawthorne’s mother, Wanda, painted a very different portrait of her son. “He has a precious heart — honest, kind, loving,” she said, pleading with the judge to show mercy. “My son is not a murderer. He would never intentionally take a life.”
A family friend added that Hawthorne was “one of the kindest, most mild-mannered people” she had ever known, insisting that “the man painted by prosecutors is not the Evan I know.”
Defense attorney Jack Swirling detailed Hawthorne’s troubled past: years of sexual abuse at the hands of his stepbrother, a lifelong struggle with alcoholism, PTSD, six years in the Marines, and repeated treatment for trauma and mental health crises. Swirling said Hawthorne often blacked out from drinking, suffered hallucinations, and could not remember every detail of the night Vaughan was killed. “He has endured unimaginable pain in his 32 years,” Swirling told the judge, asking for a lighter sentence.
Lead defense attorney Todd Rutherford said the defense never disparaged Vaughan’s character and that Hawthorne did not set out to harm him. “Evan didn’t live a life of crime. He was the voice of reason that night,” Rutherford argued, asking for the minimum 30-year sentence with credit for time served.
The Apology and the Sentence
When given the chance to speak, Hawthorne turned toward Vaughan’s family. “I’m sorry to everyone in this room,” he said quietly.
Judge William Kelly acknowledged the trauma on both sides before announcing his decision. He sentenced Hawthorne to life in prison with time served.
Hawthorn’s Family Speaks Out the Next Day
The following excerpt was received via e-mail today: The trial of Evan Hawthorne has concluded, but questions about fairness remain. From the earliest stages, the investigation into this case was marked by serious flaws. Evidence was mishandled, key materials were concealed, and investigators with personal ties to the deceased were allowed to take part in the case.
These actions deprived Evan of the fair and impartial process that every citizen is guaranteed under the law. Regardless of the jury’s decision, the people deserve to know the truth: justice cannot be built on a foundation of bias.
We will continue to pursue every avenue to ensure accountability for those who compromised this investigation, and to protect the rights of Evan and others who may face similar injustices. Our hearts break for our son. Every citizen deserves both a fair investigation and a fair trial. Evan was denied both, and we are asking for justice.
Signed, The Family of Evan Hawthorne
Final Thoughts
The sentencing brought a measure of closure, but it also underscored the deep suffering on both sides of the courtroom. For Larry Vaughan’s family, colleagues, and the Rock Hill Police Department, the loss of a beloved son, brother, father, and officer remains a wound that will never fully heal. For Evan Hawthorne’s family, the outcome means a lifetime of separation from a son they believe was broken long before this crime. The tragedy has left scars across families and a community that continues to honor Vaughan’s service while grappling with the painful aftermath of violence.
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