It took over four years, but investigators in Norfolk have finally made an arrest in the deadly 2021 house fire that claimed the life of 69-year-old Leslie Vaughn.
According to police, 67-year-old Terry T. Lawson of Norfolk has been indicted on charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and arson. A Grand Jury handed down the indictment on January 7.
Back on August 12, 2021, just before 1 a.m., Norfolk Police and Fire-Rescue responded to a burning home in the 3500 block of Somme Avenue. After firefighters knocked down the flames, they found Vaughn’s body inside.
It quickly became clear that the fire wasn’t accidental. Investigators found gasoline at the scene, and video footage from a nearby camera showed a man carrying a gas can just before the fire started.
Despite those early clues, it would be years before investigators had enough to make an arrest. Detectives say they never stopped working the case, following leads and piecing together the timeline until they had what they needed to bring charges.
The motive behind the killing has not been released. Lawson is currently being held, and further court proceedings are expected in the coming weeks