Bio

Vaughn Ross was born on September 4, 1971, in Saint Louis, Missouri. He grew up in a single-parent household with his mother and three sisters. His mother had a challenging upbringing, and this affected the family dynamics. Vaughn had asthma and laryngitis as a child, which often made him quiet and reserved.

He attended public schools and participated in extracurricular activities like track and football. He was not known to have any trouble with the law as a juvenile, except for a minor curfew violation. After high school, Vaughn pursued higher education, eventually earning degrees in architecture. He worked while studying to support himself and showed dedication to his studies.

Vaughn also joined a fraternity during his college years and held leadership positions within it. He moved to Texas to continue his education at Texas Tech University, where he was a graduate student studying architecture. Vaughn is described as being calm and not involved in any drugs or violent activities during his youth. After graduating, he worked in several architectural firms to build his career.

His early life appeared to show promise, and those who knew him at the time described him as a polite and diligent person. However, details of his family life hinted at difficulties, particularly related to the absence of his father, which Vaughn himself expressed frustration over. 

Murder Story

On January 31, 2001, Vaughn Ross shot and killed Douglas Birdsall, aged 53, and Viola Ross McVade, aged 18. Their bodies were discovered inside Birdsall's car in a ravine. They both suffered multiple gunshot wounds, with fatal injuries to the head.

Following the report of gunfire the previous night, police investigated and found glass shards and blood in an alley behind Ross's apartment. DNA evidence linked the blood stains to Birdsall. Shell casings found at both the crime scene and inside Birdsall's vehicle matched, indicating a connection. Investigators also discovered a piece of a latex glove in the car, with DNA from both Birdsall and Ross.

Upon being questioned by police, Ross admitted to arguing with Viola on the night of the murders. He claimed he had worn latex gloves because he intended to mop his kitchen floor. When police searched his apartment, they found two latex gloves and a sweatshirt, which had a bloodstain matching Birdsall's DNA. Ross's DNA was found inside a glove that was located in Birdsall's car.

During his arrest, Ross had a phone conversation with his mother in which he indicated he "might have" committed the crime. This was taken as a potential admission of guilt.

The prosecution argued that McVade was the intended target, with Birdsall being an unintended victim. Ross was arrested four days after the murders and charged with capital murder. On September 23, 2002, he was convicted and sentenced to death. His execution by lethal injection took place on July 18, 2013.