Man is found guilty in death of Rock Hill Police officer from four years ago

A jury ruled in the case of a retired Rock Hill Police lieutenant who was killed four years ago. Closing arguments were heard in the morning in York County then later that afternoon the jury deemed that Evan Hawthorne was guilty of the charge of murder.Hawthorne, a former Chester County deputy was arrested and charged after Vaughn’s body was found in July of 2021. The cause of death by the pathologist said it was blunt force trauma to the head, and strangulation. Hawthorne had pled not guilty in the case.Investigators said Hawthorne and claimed he had followed Vaughn to his apartment from a nearby bar where the two had reportedly been drinking. They said Hawthorne was seen leaving about half an hour later, covered in blood. The prosecution and defense seemed to argue whether or not it was an act of self defense and malice. More info to come in news on Wednesday.