The son of a Vermont town official has been arrested and charged with murder in connection to the fatal shooting of the man, his new wife, and his stepson.
Brian Crossman Sr., 46; his wife Erica Pawlusiak Crossman, 41; and Erica’s son Colin Taft, 13, were found dead in their Pawlet, Vermont, home on September 15.
The couple had just married in June.
Crossman Sr. was serving a one-year term as the Town of Pawlet’s Liaison to Buildings and Development and Liaison to the Town Highway Department at the time of his death.
On September 20, the town official’s son, Brian Crossman Jr., was arrested in Granville, New York, where he lives, after Vermont State Police obtained an arrest warrant for three counts of aggravated murder against him.
Brian Crossman Jr. (left) and Brian and Erica Crossman
Vermont State Police/Facebook
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.
Vermont State Police said they connected Crossman Jr. to the killings using “significant evidence” such as “digital information, statements, injuries, and various interviews.”
Crossman Jr.’s grandmother told police he was visiting his family for the weekend, and that the father and son had a troubled relationship due to Crossman Jr.’s mental health and learning disability, NBC5 reports.
She believes Crossman Jr. would be capable of committing such an act as a triple murder and that her grandson was proficient with firearms.
Crossman Jr. is currently being held without bail on a fugitive from justice charge in New York. It is unclear whether he will be extradited to Vermont.
Private calling hours for Crossman Sr. will be held at a funeral home in Vermont on September 27.
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