A former Oklahoma deputy was sentenced to life in prison for killing his wife, Jordan Cannon, by shooting her in the face 12 times.
Vaughn Cannon, 42, learned his sentence on Tuesday for the murder of his 40-year-old wife. Cannon had pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in September.
During sentencing, the victim’s father, Nathan Pyle, addressed the defendant, stating that he had reservations about their marriage and had warned him not to harm her, according to the Oklahoman.
“No, you just shot her 12 times in the face,” Pyle said.
One of the defendant’s sons, also the victim’s stepson, stood up in court, glared at Vaughn Cannon, and declared, “I (expletive) hate you,” the Oklahoman reported.
Following the sentencing, Pyle expressed his belief that the punishment was fair, saying, “I think it was only just that he spend the rest of his life in prison. He took her life, and we’ll never see her again until the afterlife.”
Before the sentence was handed down, Cannon made a statement in court, expressing his anguish.
“Please believe me when I say it is so much worse for me,” he said, according to the report. “I am tortured every single day. It’s been brutal. I would take her place if God would let me. I will accept the sentence given to me by the court.”
As Law&Crime reported, Cannon shot his wife on August 30, 2023, at their Canadian County home, according to court records.
Body-worn camera footage obtained by Law&Crime showed the defendant in a state of distress after the shooting.
That night, Cannon’s stepson heard several gunshots followed by sharp cries. According to an affidavit of probable cause, the 17-year-old had gone to bed around midnight and didn’t think his mother or stepfather were home. At around 2 a.m., he woke up to hear approximately five gunshots and then his stepfather’s screams. He ran outside and called the police.
When officers arrived, they found Jordan Cannon dead in one of the bedrooms, and several firearms were discovered inside the home.
“Is there anybody else in there with you?” one officer asked the defendant in the body-camera video.
“No, it’s my wife,” Cannon replied, his voice shaky.
“Is she OK?” the officer asked.
“No,” Cannon responded.
The officers reassured him that they intended to help the woman, but stressed the importance of his cooperation and that he should not be carrying a weapon. Cannon confirmed he did not have one.
Moments later, Cannon crawled out of the bedroom on his hands and knees, holding a black cellphone. He tearfully called out, “Uncle, uncle, uncle, come see me,” repeatedly.
As officers handcuffed him, Cannon continued to cry for his uncle while they assessed the scene. His voice became increasingly erratic and strained as he sobbed.
The deputy’s cries for his uncle persisted as officers placed him in handcuffs.
Cannon, however, stopped short of confessing to the crime.
“Detectives interviewed Vaughn after being advised of his Miranda Rights,” the affidavit read. “After agreeing to speak with detectives, he said he didn’t remember the entire incident. Vaughn recalled being in the bedroom with his wife, who was sitting on the side of the bed. He remembered hearing gunshots and calling his uncle. During the conversation, Vaughn said, ‘I f—– up.’ His uncle told him to surrender to the police.”