A Neosho man, Lawrence William Vaughan, also known as “Scary Larry,” has been given a 25-year federal prison sentence without parole for his involvement in a kidnapping conspiracy that led to the torture and death of the victim. Vaughan also received additional charges for possessing stolen firearms. Vaughan pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy in July 2020, and five co-defendants await sentencing. The victim, Michael Hall, was targeted due to a dispute over a stolen trailer. Vaughan and others assaulted and ultimately killed Hall before disposing of his body. Joplin Globe reported
Neosho Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Kidnapping Conspiracy and Possession of Stolen Firearms
A Neosho man, identified as Lawrence William Vaughan, also known as “Scary Larry,” has been handed a 25-year federal prison sentence without parole. This sentencing comes after Vaughan’s involvement in a kidnapping conspiracy that led to the torture and death of the victim. Additionally, Vaughan was charged separately for possessing stolen firearms. The sentencing was carried out by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool on Tuesday.
Vaughan, 52, had previously pleaded guilty in April to his role in the conspiracy to commit kidnapping, which occurred in July 2020. Five other co-defendants, including Freddie Lewis Tilton, Carla Jo Ward, James B. Gibson, Amy Kay Thomas, and Russell Eugene Hurtt, have also pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing in the same case.
According to the U.S. attorney’s office for the Western District of Missouri, Vaughan confessed to participating in the conspiracy to kidnap the victim, Michael Hall. The motive behind the kidnapping stemmed from a dispute between Tilton and Hall regarding a stolen trailer. Hall and two others believed that Tilton was responsible for the theft, and tensions escalated. In early July 2020, the three individuals managed to recover the trailer, which further fueled Tilton’s animosity towards Hall.
Tilton offered Ward and Vaughan $5,000 each to locate and secure Hall. Ward, aware of Tilton’s vendetta against the victim, picked up Hall and brought him to Vaughan’s residence. Vaughan then texted Tilton, informing him of Hall’s presence and readiness to be handed over. The communication between Vaughan and Tilton continued throughout the early morning hours of July 15, 2020, with Vaughan providing updates on Hall’s possession of firearms.
In the early morning hours of July 15, Tilton, Thomas, and Gibson arrived at Vaughan’s residence. They forcibly restrained Hall by handcuffing him and securing duct tape around his mouth and body. Hall was subjected to physical assault, including cuts, beatings, and burns inflicted by Gibson, Thomas, and others. In an attempt to intimidate him, shots were fired before Tilton shot Hall in the head. Vaughan and his accomplices cleaned up the crime scene, wrapped Hall’s body in plastic, and transported it to Hurtt’s property.
Authorities discovered Hall’s decomposed body on July 28, 2020, at a property in Newton County, following a tip about a potential crime scene. Additionally, during the search, law enforcement found multiple stolen firearms, including a Rigarmi .25-caliber pistol, an Ithaca .22-caliber rifle, a Remington .22-caliber rifle without a serial number, a Harrington and Richardson 12-gauge shotgun, a Ruger 9 mm handgun, and a Taurus 9 mm handgun without a serial number.
Apart from his involvement in the kidnapping conspiracy, Vaughan had also pleaded guilty to charges related to possessing stolen firearms and being an unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm. He admitted to possessing a DB9 9 mm handgun, reported stolen in 2019, and a Glock 9mm handgun, also reported stolen in 2019. Methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia were discovered in a stolen travel trailer located on Vaughan’s property.
Vaughan and the other co-conspirators were indicted by a federal grand jury in 2021. Initially, they were also charged with murder under the felony murder rule, which allows individuals involved in a violent felony resulting in death to be charged with murder. However, the U.S. attorney’s office dismissed the murder counts based on a previous court ruling.
According to court records, Tilton is believed to be the primary conspirator and the individual responsible for shooting and killing Hall.
Overall, the sentencing of Lawrence William Vaughan highlights the severe consequences of engaging in kidnapping conspiracies and possessing stolen firearms. The court’s decision reflects the gravity of the crimes committed and serves as a deterrent to others who may consider engaging in similar unlawful activities..