An Oak Island man was sentenced to 16 to 20 years in prison for beating and stabbing his girlfriend to death with a liquor bottle.
Kevin Vaughn of Oak Island pled guilty to second degree murder today (Sept. 23) in Brunswick County Superior Court, District Attorney Jon David said in a press release. Vaughn was sentenced t0 192 to 243 months in prison by Superior Court Judge Jason Disbrow.
On Oct. 1, 2022, David said, a woman called 911 to report Vaughn had telephoned her and confessed to killing Tina Carlton. When Oak Island Police got to at Carlton’s house, Vaughan was outside and appeared to be getting into his truck. He was covered in blood, David said.
When he was ordered to put his hands up, Vaughn told officers that Carlton was dead inside. Officers found the victim lying in a pool of blood, with “multiple stab wounds and sharp force injuries,” including a fatal wound to her throat.
A broken liquor bottle was used to kill Carlton.
Det. Thomas O’Brien with the Oak Island Police Department determined that Carlton and Vaughan had been drinking earlier that evening at a local bar. Afterwards an altercation occurred, and Carlton was “located by police in the woods near the Barbee bridge,” the release said. A neighbor took Carlton home around midnight. A second altercation later ended in her death.
Carlton’s mother, her sister, and three daughters all spoke at sentencing during the plea. They said Carlton had a “love of life and family,” and described “her selflessness when it came to taking care of the ones she loved.”
Vaughan also addressed Carlton’s family and apologized for his actions.
