Murder Trial Set for Former Officer’s Death in Rock Hill, Four Years After 2021 Killing

ROCK HILL, S.C. — A long-awaited murder trial is finally set to begin in August for the man accused of killing a retired Rock Hill police lieutenant just months after he left the force in 2021.

Evan Robert Hawthorne, a former Chester County sheriff’s deputy, is charged with murdering retired Lt. Larry Vaughan following an alleged argument at a downtown Rock Hill bar. Hawthorne, who has maintained a plea of not guilty, was arrested hours after Vaughan’s body was found in his downtown apartment.

Victim Found Dead in Apartment Across from Former Precinct

Vaughan, 54, was discovered dead on July 23, 2021, in his residence on Main Street and Dave Lyle Boulevard — just across the street from where he had served the city for 30 years. Known around the department as “LV,” Vaughan had recently retired and was well-respected as a SWAT commander and detective supervisor.

Due to his history with the department, the York County Sheriff’s Office led the investigation and soon charged Hawthorne with murder. Authorities cited surveillance footage and witness testimony showing that the two men had been drinking together at Tattooed Brews, and that Hawthorne was seen entering and leaving Vaughan’s building, reportedly with blood on him.

Delayed Trial Now Set for August 18

Although Hawthorne was charged in 2021, the case was delayed for several years. The local York County Solicitor’s Office recused itself due to longstanding ties with Vaughan, and the case was reassigned to the Spartanburg County Solicitor’s Office. The COVID-19 pandemic also contributed to major delays in court proceedings.

Now, officials have confirmed the trial is scheduled to begin August 18 at the Moss Justice Center in York County.

“It’s horrible — it’s a nightmare you can’t wake up from,” Vaughan’s sister Lori Williams told The Charlotte Observer. “If there is any justice left in this country, I hope Larry gets it.”

Defense Claims Self-Defense

Hawthorne, who has been free on $250,000 bail with electronic monitoring since December 2022, is being represented by two high-profile defense attorneys: Jack Swerling, a veteran criminal lawyer, and Todd Rutherford, a sitting member of the South Carolina House of Representatives.

Swerling insists his client has always pleaded not guilty and was “defending himself” in the 2021 incident. No further comment was offered ahead of trial.

In prior hearings, Rutherford pointed out that Vaughan’s blood alcohol level was 0.27 — more than three times the legal limit for driving.

Civil Lawsuit Against Suspect and Bar Still Pending

Aside from the criminal case, Vaughan’s estate filed a wrongful death lawsuit last year against both Hawthorne and Tattooed Brews. That civil complaint was amended and refiled in May, with both defendants submitting responses denying liability.

No date has been set for the civil case, which remains independent of the criminal trial.

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