According to District Attorney Micheal Murray, Evan Travis Williford, 25, pled guilty to murder yesterday for the murder of 7 month old Eryian Vaughan in 2019. Pursuant to the plea agreement, Judge Mike Smith, sentenced Williford to 50 years incarceration on the murder charge. Williford will have to serve half of this sentence before he becomes eligible for parole. As part of the agreement, Williford waived his right to appeal his conviction.

The victim, Eryian, was initially taken to Brownwood Regional Medical Center, and then transported to Cook Childrens’ Hospital where he ultimately passed away. Brownwood Police Department investigated Eryian’s injuries and ultimately charged Williford as the responsible party. Dr. Scot Morris from Brownwood Pediatrics and several doctors with Cook Childrens’ Hospital were closely involved in the treatment of Eryian and did exceptional work in attempting all possible methods of saving Eryian’s life, and documenting the extensive nature of his injuries.

District Attorney Micheal Murray stated that “Our office was concerned in this case with ensuring that justice was found for Eryian. Williford’s acceptance of responsibility for his actions allows the victim’s family to find closure without having to relive the trauma of Eryian’s loss. We are grateful to be able to end the litigation over Williford’s responsibility and ensure that he will serve a very lengthy sentence before he becomes eligible for parole.”

Murray continued, “Protection of the community and those who are vulnerable within our community is our office’s highest priority. We also want to consider the impact of a trial on a victim’s family and when possible avoid the prolonged appellate litigation that leaves a family in limbo for several years.”

Williford was also sentenced to the maximum on a burglary of a habitation offense from 2016 and the maximum on a tampering with evidence offense from 2018 as part of the plea agreement.

Williford had previously received probation on the burglary charge and was currently facing a motion to adjudicate with the highest possible sentence available being 20 years incarceration. The prison sentences in all three cases run together, however, the parole board can consider evidence of all three cases when deciding whether Williford can make parole after half of his SO-year sentence has been served.

The District Attorney would like to thank Brownwood Police Department and Texas Ranger Jason Shea for their hard work on this case. Murray also appreciates the difficult work his entire staff put into preparing this case for trial, and the professional actions and respect of Patrick Howard, Williford’s attorney, in resolving the case.