The order had been modified to allow Eric Vann to have visitation with his children. Eric Vann’s prior arrests include:
07-03-09 - No eye protection on MC 05-07-07 - No MC endorsement 12-24-05 - Willful Disregard for Safety (Reduced OVI), Speeding 04-02-01 - Unnecessary Noise-tires 10-31-98 - Speed 04-03-98 - Speed 10-04-96 - Speed 08-27-96 - Sexual Imposition 11-29-94 - Speed
The Vann’s were married in February of 1995. Information provided by family members indicates April Vann had recently filed separation paperwork, noted Slusser in a news release issued Monday afternoon.
Preliminary autopsy reports confirm that both subjects died as a result of single gunshot wounds to the head. Eric Vann’s wound appears to be self-inflicted. The investigation indicates that shortly before the police department received the call Eric Vann parked his vehicle on South Street, about a half a block from his estranged wife’s home.
He walked south, behind the homes in the 700 block of S. Elm Street to the rear of 719. He then jumped the fence and walked through the back yard, entering the house where he located his wife in a laundry room and immediately shot her before turning the gun on himself. There were no indications of a conversation, argument, fight or struggle.
There has been much speculation about exactly what the children present in the home at the time of the shooting witnessed. It is still the opinion of the investigators that, while some of the children may have heard the gunshots, none of them actually saw the incident occur.
This is based not only by their independent statements on the day of the shooting, but also by the physical layout of the basement and laundry room. Other physical evidence, such as the position of the bodies, also supports this determination.
Unfortunately, the children were subject to the aftermath of the shooting and based upon seeing the bodies in the laundry room made their decision to gather everyone together and seek help from a neighbor.