Police: Three Family Members Found Shot to Death, No Arrests Made

A tragic incident has unfolded in Pawlet, Vermont, where a man, his wife, and her 13-year-old son were discovered shot to death in their home. State police are currently searching for a suspect in connection to the incident.

The Vermont State Police responded early Sunday to reports of a “suspicious person,” leading them to investigate a residence in Pawlet. Upon arrival, officers found three deceased individuals inside the home.

The victims have been identified as 46-year-old Brian Crossman Sr., who was a member of the Pawlet government; his 41-year-old wife Erica Crossman; and her son, Colin Taft, aged 13, who was also Brian’s stepson.

According to reports, all three victims died from gunshot wounds. The Vermont Chief Medical Examiner’s Office has ruled their deaths as homicides. Initial examinations indicated that Brian was shot in the head and torso, Erica suffered a gunshot wound to the head, and Colin sustained multiple gunshot wounds.

As of now, no individual is in custody regarding these tragic homicides. State police have stated that their preliminary investigations suggest this was an isolated event, and there is no ongoing threat to the community.

Detectives are continuing their investigation, but no further details have been released at this time.

Brian Crossman was recently elected to the Pawlet Select Board, where he held the position of liaison for buildings, development, and the town’s highway department. In memory of Brian and his family, flowers were placed at the Pawlet Town Hall ahead of a town board meeting on Tuesday evening.

Mike Beecher, Chair of the Pawlet Select Board, expressed deep sorrow over the incident, remembering Brian as both a “friend and neighbor” as well as a dedicated community member. “This tragedy that struck him and his family has also hit our community hard, and we are shaken and grieving,” Beecher said. “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.”

Pawlet is a small town with a population of approximately 1,400, situated in western Vermont near the New York state line. The tight-knit community is now left to cope with the aftermath of this shocking tragedy.