A small Vermont town is reeling after the triple homicide of a new family, one of whom was a recently elected official.
Family slayed in brutal triple homicide
Authorities have confirmed that the deaths, initially deemed “suspicious,” are now being investigated as homicides.
The victims, identified as Brian Crossman Sr., 46, his wife Erica Crossman, 41, and Colin Taft, 13, were found dead in their home in Pawlet, Vermont, over the weekend.
Vermont State Police (VSP) revealed that all three victims were fatally shot, deepening the tragedy that has shaken this tight-knit community.
Brian Crossman, who had just been elected to the Pawlet Select Board earlier this year, was discovered alongside his wife Erica, née Pawlusiak, and her son Colin, Brian’s stepson.
Pawlet is a small rural town of about 1,400 people located near Vermont’s border with New York State.
The grisly crime scene was uncovered in the early hours of Sunday morning, following a call to law enforcement about a “suspicious person” in the area.
The initial 911 call, received around 3:45 a.m., described an individual with blood on them seen on Vermont Route 133, prompting Vermont State Police to investigate.
Upon arrival, state troopers discovered the lifeless bodies of Brian, Erica, and Colin inside their home, located on the same rural road where the suspicious individual had been reported.
The trio had all been shot multiple times, leading authorities to immediately classify the deaths as homicides.
The Vermont State Police shared more details on Tuesday, after the state medical examiner’s office released the victims’ identities and causes of death.
According to the medical examiner’s report, Brian Crossman died from multiple gunshot wounds to both his head and torso, while Erica was killed by a single gunshot wound to the head. Colin, just 13 years old, sustained multiple gunshot wounds.
No arrests made in mysterious triple homicide
The case remains shrouded in mystery, with investigators still piecing together what happened.
What is known so far is that a person with blood on them was found near the scene and later detained by law enforcement.
This individual, described as a “person of interest,” allegedly directed police to the crime scene where the three bodies were found.
However, no arrests have been made, and authorities have not yet disclosed the person’s role in the crime or their connection to the victims.
Maj. Dan Trudeau of the Vermont State Police provided more details about the unusual circumstances surrounding the initial call.
“There was a report of a person that had some blood on them,” Trudeau told local media, adding that this person was seen on the roadway near the residence where the killings took place.
A second call came in shortly thereafter, directing troopers to the house, where they discovered the victims.
The person of interest, who was found near a local primary school, has reportedly been cooperative with investigators but has not been charged with any crimes.
Local residents have been left stunned by the violence that struck a family known for their contributions to the community.
Brian Crossman had recently taken over the family farm, which had been in his family for generations.
Neighbors described him as someone who was dedicated to restoring and working the land, with hopes of making a fresh start on the farm.
Mike Beecher, chair of the Pawlet Select Board, expressed his sorrow at the loss of a colleague and friend.
“Brian Crossman was a friend and neighbor, a hardworking community member who just this year stepped up to join the Pawlet Select Board,” Beecher said in a statement.
“This tragedy that struck him and his family has also hit our community hard, and we are shaken and grieving,” he added. “Our hearts go out to everyone affected by this devastating loss.”
Police say there is no threat to the community
Despite the brutal nature of the killings, Vermont State Police have reassured the public that there is no ongoing threat to the community.
“Initial work by detectives indicates this was an isolated event with no identified threat to the community,” VSP said in a press release, though they did not elaborate on why they believe the crime was isolated.
VSP Public Information Officer Adam Silverman noted that the investigation is ongoing.
“Speaking generally, police are not allowed to arrest people without sufficient evidence to do so — a standard known as probable cause,” Silverman explained in an email to Vermont News & Media.
“Police investigate crimes, develop leads, identify potential persons of interest and suspects, and attempt to uncover enough evidence to establish probable cause and support a criminal charge, which would lead to an arrest.”
Silverman also assured the public that investigators are following all leads and standard protocol while investigating.
“We are taking all the steps that we normally would in any homicide case and collecting any available evidence,” Maj. Trudeau added.
UPDATE:
Crossman’s 22-year-old son, Brian Crossman Jr., was arrested and charged with three counts of aggravated murder for fatally shooting his father, stepmother, and 13-year-old stepbrother.
Crossman Jr. was taken into police custody in New York, where he made his first court appearance on Friday after being charged as a fugitive from justice.
Vermont State Police confirmed that Crossman Jr. was the person who originally called 911 to report the triple homicide. He remains in custody without bail until his court date next week.
