08/22/1976 - Report #42 - Victims: Robert Leo Vaughn III, Paula Claudine Vaughn, Thomas L. Whitlock, Barbara Hill, Robert Hayes Jr - Location: Beverly Hills, MO

MCS Report #42

Classification: Homicide

Requesting Agency: Beverly Hills Police Department

Date of Activation: 08/22/1976

Commander and Department: Maj. Robert Lowery, Florissant PD

Victims: Robert Leo Vaughn III, Paula Claudine Vaughn, Thomas L. Whitlock, Barbara Hill, and Robert Hayes Jr

Suspects: Eddie Vincent Lawrence and Robert Lewis Small

The Beverly Hills Police Department requested the assistance of the Major Case Squad in investigating the deaths of Robert Vaughn III (age 32), Paula Vaughn (age 23), Thomas Whitlock (age 26), Barbara Hill (age 33), and Robert Hayes Jr (age 33). At approximately 6:21pm, police officers responded to a residence in the 3500 block of West Place for a report of a shooting. There officers found Robert Vaughn and his wife, Paula Vaughn, as well as Thomas Whitlock, Barbara Hill, and Robert Hayes inside the residence. Robert Vaughn had been stabbed and the rest of the occupants had been shot. They were all pronounced dead on scene.

As a result of this investigation, Eddie Lawrence (age 22) and Robert Small (age 34) were each charged with 5 counts of Murder 1st Degree. They were both arrested on no-bond warrants.