A tight-knit rural Vermont community is reeling after a horrifying triple homicide claimed the lives of an elected official, his wife and his stepson. The town of Pawlet, known for its quiet, pastoral lifestyle, has been shaken by the deaths of Brian Crossman Sr., his wife Erica and her teenage son, Colin Taft.
The couple had only recently gotten married in June.
On Sept. 15, authorities escalated what was initially deemed “suspicious” deaths into a full homicide investigation. Vermont State Police (VSP) quickly confirmed that Brian Crossman Sr., 46, his wife Erica Crossman, 41, and Colin Taft, 13, were all fatally shot at their home in Pawlet, a small town near Vermont’s border with New York.
VSP confirmed that the victims were discovered early that Sunday morning, after an alarming 911 call reported a suspicious person near the scene of the crime. Maj. Dan Trudeau of the VSP provided further details on the unusual circumstances leading to the discovery of the bodies.
“There was a report of a person that had some blood on them,” explained Trudeau. “This individual was seen on Vermont Route 133, not far from where the killings occurred.”
According to Newsweek, authorities in New York arrested 22-year-old Brian Crossman Jr., the son of Brian Sr., and charged him with three counts of aggravated murder for the deaths of his father, stepmother, and stepbrother:
Crossman Jr. was getting discharged from the Glens Falls Hospital upon his arrest where he had been admitted on Sunday night for psychiatric issues.
After his alleged crimes, Crossman Jr. called Vermont police to report that he had found his family dead. He agreed to meet police at Wells Village School where he donned blood-soaked clothes, and then accompanied police back to the scene of his alleged crimes.
Crossman Jr. initially told police that he went for a late-night walk and came back to find his slain family members. He also claimed that his clothes were covered in blood because he had attempted to drag his dad outside of the home.
The medical examiner ruled all three deaths homicides. Crossman Sr.’s cause of death was gunshot wounds to the head and torso. Erica Crossman died of a gunshot to the head, and Taft died of multiple gunshot wounds.
The motive for the crime remains unclear, and the investigation is ongoing. However, Crossman Jr.’s grandmother informed the police that he was visiting his family for the weekend. She mentioned that the father and son had a strained relationship due to Crossman Jr.’s mental health issues.
According to the grandmother, Crossman Jr. had long been proficient with firearms. In an interview, she expressed their belief that her grandson could be capable of committing such an act.
A Community in Shock
The town of Pawlet, known for its tranquility and close-knit relationships, has been left stunned. Brian Crossman Sr. had recently taken over his family’s farm. Friends and neighbors described him as passionate about revitalizing the land and hopeful about his family’s future in the community.
“Brian was a friend, a neighbor, and a dedicated community member,” said Mike Beecher, chair of the Pawlet Select Board. “His death is not only a personal loss but a communal one. We are shaken to the core.”
