The Sumter County case includes alleged statements about religion, weapons and a handcuff complaint.
WILDWOOD, Fla. — A Florida man accused of killing his mother made several statements admitting the attack and claiming God told him to act, police said in reports that led to his arrest on murder and weapons charges.
Derek DeWayne Vaughn, 51, is being held without bond in the Sumter County jail after the death of his mother, 77-year-old Jerry Lea Vaughn. Authorities said she was stabbed and shot Monday night, April 6, inside a home along County Road 116 in the Wildwood area. The case has drawn attention because police say Derek Vaughn did not dispute the killing after officers arrived. Instead, according to reports citing the arrest record, he described what he had done, complained about his handcuffs and made religious statements that investigators included in the case file.
The alleged admissions began at the scene. Wildwood police went to the home after Jerry Vaughn called 911 during the attack and reported that her son had stabbed her. Officers found Derek Vaughn outside near the front of the house with his wife and two children. Police detained him immediately. When officers placed or tightened the handcuffs, he allegedly said, “I mean, I know I killed my mom, but that one is uncomfortable.” The statement became one of the most striking details in the early reports because police said it came as officers were securing him outside the home where his mother was critically injured.
Investigators said Derek Vaughn then gave a broader account of the attack. Reports said he told officers he had stabbed his mother, but she did not die. He allegedly said God told him to get his late father’s gun and shoot her in the head, and that he then did so. Villages-News reported that he admitted using a Damascus bladed butcher knife and a Beretta handgun. It also reported that he said he stabbed her in the heart and shot her in the head. Those statements, if admitted in court, could become a major part of the prosecution’s case, along with the emergency call, medical records, physical evidence and any recordings from officers at the scene.
The arrest report also describes statements that appear to address motive or belief. Derek Vaughn allegedly told police his mother was satan and said, “I killed the devil.” He also reportedly said God had been testing him. Mary Arnold, a friend and neighbor of Jerry Vaughn, strongly rejected the religious claim. “Jesus Christ, my savior, did not tell that young man to take his mother’s life,” Arnold said. “I don’t know who he was listening to, but it was not Jesus Christ.” Authorities have not released a detailed motive, and the public record so far does not include any defense explanation for the statements attributed to Derek Vaughn.
Reports said Derek Vaughn underwent a mental health evaluation and was found to understand right from wrong. That finding was included in the early police account and may be important as the case develops. A finding that a person understands right from wrong can affect how investigators and courts view statements about delusions, religious commands or other claims made after an alleged crime. It does not resolve all questions about mental health, competency or possible defenses. Those issues may depend on later evaluations, court motions and testimony. For now, the public reports say only that he was evaluated, cleared in that respect and had no prior criminal history known to authorities.
The charges reported in the case include dangerous and depraved murder without premeditation and a weapons offense related to firing a gun in an occupied dwelling. The murder charge reflects the allegation that Derek Vaughn killed his mother without the premeditation language that appears in some other homicide charges. The weapons count reflects the allegation that a firearm was discharged inside the home. Police said Derek Vaughn’s wife and children were outside with him when officers arrived, but the reports do not say whether they were inside during the shooting. Authorities have not publicly released witness statements from the wife or children. No reports reviewed said they were physically injured.
The investigation changed hands after the first response. Wildwood police initially handled the call because they were sent to the scene after Jerry Vaughn reached 911. The case was later turned over to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office after officials determined the home was within county jurisdiction. That procedural shift matters because the sheriff’s office is expected to control the continuing investigation, evidence processing and future updates. Prosecutors will rely on the investigative record as they decide how to proceed in court. Court filings could later clarify whether the reported charges remain the same, whether additional counts are filed and whether the defense challenges any statements attributed to Vaughn.
Jerry Vaughn was taken by ambulance to UF Health Spanish Plaines Hospital in The Villages and was pronounced dead later that night. One local report gave the time as 9:40 p.m. Monday. Neighbors described her as a loving, generous woman who welcomed family into her home. They said she was a regular presence at gatherings and birthday parties and cared deeply about neighborhood children. One neighbor said Jerry Vaughn would apologize for small things even while doing kind acts, such as bringing extra treats for children. Another said, “It still doesn’t feel real,” describing the loss as the kind of news the neighborhood was still trying to understand.
The first court steps will address custody, counsel and scheduling. Later filings may reveal more about the evidence, the 911 call, the weapons, the mental health evaluation and the statements police say Vaughn made at the scene. Derek Vaughn is expected to appear before a Sumter County judge Wednesday, April 8. As of the latest public reports, he remained jailed without bond while deputies continued the homicide investigation.
Author note: Last updated April 29, 2026.