Inset: Erica and Brian Crossman (Facebook). Background: The house where the Crossman family was found shot to death (Google Maps).
A Vermont family of three – one of whom served as an elected official – was shot to death in their own home over the weekend, according to law enforcement in the Green Mountain State.
Originally referred to as “suspicious deaths,” the three individuals are now believed to have been killed in the manner of homicide, Vermont State Police said in a series of updated press releases.
On Tuesday, law enforcement identified the victims as Brian Crossman Sr., 46, his wife, Erica Crossman, née Pawlusiak, 41, and Colin Taft, 13, who is Erica’s son and Brian’s stepson.
Earlier this year, Crossman was elected to the select board in Pawlet – a typically small town in Rutland County located some 85 miles due south of Burlington.
The order of law enforcement involvement highlights the still-unfolding mystery of the tragic triple homicide case.
During the early morning hours on Sunday, police initially received a call about a “suspicious person,” according to state troopers. That first call came in around 3:45 a.m.
“Subsequent investigation led the state police to a residence on Vermont Route 133, where troopers located the deceased victims,” the first version of the press release reads.
Late Sunday evening, law enforcement reiterated their understanding of the crime, saying continued investigation confirmed that all three deaths “are considered suspicious.”
On Tuesday, the state medical examiner released the victims’ identities and their causes of death. Brian Crossman died from a series of gunshot wounds to his head and torso, and Erica Crossman died from a lone gunshot wound to her head. Colin’s fatal injuries were described only as “multiple gunshot wounds.”
“All three deaths were ruled homicides,” troopers said – suggesting investigators believe all three victims were murdered.
But it’s not the timeline alone that has law enforcement puzzled.
The suspicious person who triggered the police response on the day in question has been described in various ways.
“There was a report of a person that had some blood on them,” Vermont State Police Maj. Dan Trudeau said in comments to Burlington-based CBS affiliate WCAX. “That they saw on the roadway.”
A second phone call led state troopers directly to the scene of the crime, state police told the TV station.
But apparently, so did the person who was said to be covered in blood.
“We ended up detaining this person,” Trudeau continued. “Described getting to the house, and finding deceased bodies inside.”
Also described as a “person of interest,” the person who allegedly had blood on them was waiting for police at a nearby primary school, according to the Bennington Banner, citing neighbors.
“That house is like my great grandfather[s], so everybody congregated there,” an anonymous neighbor told the newspaper. “There were five brothers, so it’s a big family.”
The neighbor went on to say that Brian Crossman had recently taken over the family’s farm on the property where he was killed – a farm that had been in the family for generations.
“He was cleaning it up and working the farm,” the neighbor continued. “I think he was just trying to make a new start and trying to run the family farm. And, yeah, this just is, like, the last thing I expected.”
Also new to the Crossman clan was public service.
Mike Beecher, chairperson of the Pawlet Selectboard, remembered the slain man in comments to New England Cable News, a local, NBC-owned cable news channel based out of Needham, Massachusetts.
“Brian Crossman was a friend and neighbor, a hardworking community member who just this year stepped up to join the Pawlet Selectboard,” he said. “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.”
Police say there is no threat to the community – but did not say why. The investigation is ongoing.
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