Former Deputy Evan Robert Hawthorne, 27, was charged with murder in the case of retired Rock Hill Police Department Lieutenant Larry Vaughan.
On July 23rd, Law Enforcement was called to 108 East Main Street where Vaughan was found dead in his apartment. According to the York County Coroner’s Office Vaughan had been involved in some sort of physical altercation prior to this death.
The Rock Hill PD requested that the York County Sheriff’s Department do the investigation due to ties Vaughan had with their department.
Former Deputy Hawthorne was fired from the Chester Sheriff’s Office in 2019 following a DUI, which resulted in a single-vehicle accident while he was off-duty, but in his patrol car. Chester County Sheriff Max Dorsey fired Hawthorne after his arrest.
York County Sheriff Kevin Tolson released a statement saying, “Our hearts break for our friends and colleagues at the Rock Hill Police Department and our entire law enforcement community. I’m thankful for the diligence and the expedient work for our detectives during such a difficult case regarding an individual they knew personally.”
The Mayor of Rock Hill released the following statement, “We are grateful to Sheriff Tolson and the members of the York County Sheriff’s Office for their quick work in bringing closure to what has been a very difficult day for the members of the Rock Hill Police Department. We remember with gratitude the work of Lieutenant Larry Vaughan. He often served at our Council meetings and was always a reassuring presence in those meetings. Our prayers are with this family and the entire Police Department in the coming days.”
This is still an ongoing case.