A New York man who killed his father, stepmother, and stepsister has been arrested and charged with triple homicide in Vermont on Friday, police say.
Brian Crossman Jr., 22, was arrested in New York by the Warren County Police Department, where he is currently being held on a fugitive charge while awaiting extradition to face three counts of aggravated murder in Vermont.
On September 15, Vermont police officers responded to a family home along Route 13 in Pawlet, where they found three deceased individuals. Soon, they identified the victims as Brian Crossman Sr., 46, his wife Erica Crossman, 41, and her son Colin Taft, 13.
Though the defendant had called 911 to report the incident and told authorities he had gone for a walk and returned to find his family slain, They didn’t believe him. Soon, investigators linked Crossman Jr. to the crime scene with significant evidence, digital information, injuries, and several inconsistent statements. According to the New York Post, Crossman Sr. was shot in the head and the torso, his wife Erica was shot in the head, and Taft had several gunshot wounds.
Family members told authorities Crossman Jr. had a history of mental health issues, aggressive behaviors, and a learning disability.
Crossman Sr. was a member of the Pawlet Select Board, where he served as a liaison between the town’s highway department and its property developments.
"This tragedy that struck him and his family has also hit our community hard, and we are shaken and grieving. Our hearts go out to everyone affected by this devastating loss. The town of Pawlet will work to get through this as we always get through hard times, by supporting each other and doing our best to carry on," said Pawlet Select Board Chair Mike Beecher, reported ABC News.
The motive for the killings remains unclear.
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