Vaughn Ross (September 4, 1971 – July 18, 2013) was a Texas murderer. He was a graduate student at Texas Tech University before being convicted for the January 31, 2001, murders of Douglas Birdsall, 53, and Viola Ross McVade, 18, in Lubbock County, Texas.[1][2][3][4]
Viola was the sister of Ross's girlfriend. Douglas Birdsall had been the associate dean at the Texas Tech library. Ross shot both victims. Later the same day, a mountain biker came across the murder scene and found both Douglas's and Viola's bodies in a car. DNA on a latex glove found in Birdsall's car and a sweatshirt Vaughn was wearing had blood of Douglas Birdsall; these were two things that linked Ross to the double murder.[5] In 2002, Ross was found guilty of capital murder and sentenced to death by lethal injection by a jury.[6] Prior to the murders, Ross had previous convictions in Missouri for auto theft and stabbing his ex-girlfriend Regina Carlisle. He pleaded guilty to these crimes in 1997 and was put on probation.[7]
Ross received attention in Sweden after he agreed to be part of a special theme week about the death penalty in the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet.[8] Aftonbladet covered his case and his last week alive before his execution and reported live from outside the prison on the day of the execution.[9]
Ross left a final statement before being executed which was revealed to Aftonbladet reporter Carina Bergfeldt.[1] He is buried at Captain Joe Byrd Cemetery.
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