East TN father, stepmother charged in child's death

Thursday, February 6, 2014

SURGOINSVILLE, Tenn. - An East Tennessee couple has been charged in the 2012 death of a 5-year-old girl.

The Kingsport Times-News cited a statement from Hawkins County Sheriff Ronnie Lawson in reporting that the girl's father, Randall L. Vaughn and her stepmother, Mary L. Vaughn, were charged with murder, aggravated child abuse and aggravated child neglect.

The statement says a two-year investigation has found that Alexa Linboom died of acute fluid/water intoxication. Lawson said no further information was being released.

It wasn't immediately clear whether the Vaughns have an attorney.

They are being held at the Hawkins County jail, and each has a $500,000 bond. They are scheduled to be in court on Friday.