A New York man has been arrested after allegedly killing his father, stepmother and her young son in their once cozy Vermont home earlier this week.
Brian Crossman Jr., 22, is accused of fatally shooting his father, Brian Crossman, 46, stepmother Erica, 41, and her teenage son Colin Taft, 13, Sunday morning at the couple’s Vermont home.
The Granville resident was arrested Friday by New York State Police and charged with three counts of aggravated manslaughter.
After his arrest, Crossman Jr. appeared in Warren County Court in Lake George, where he was held without bail pending extradition to Vermont.
The motive for the killings remains unclear, as police say their prime suspect called 911 to report the incident. He told investigators he had gone for a walk and returned home to find his family dead, WCAX reported.
Brian Crossman Jr., 22, is accused of fatally shooting his father, Brian Crossman, 46, stepmother Erica, 41, and her teenage son Colin Taft, 13, Sunday morning at the couple’s Vermont home
The motive for the killings remains unclear, as police say their prime suspect called 911 to report the incident and told police he had gone for a walk and returned home to find his family dead.
The Granville resident was arrested Friday by New York State Police and charged with three counts of aggravated manslaughter. Pictured: Crossman Jr.’s stepmother, Erica, and her son, Colin
Detectives quickly discovered inconsistencies in the 22-year-old’s story when police found the now prime suspect in blood-covered clothing at a school near his Vermont home.
Family members told the newspaper that Crossman Jr. had a complicated relationship with his father, who had just been elected to the Pawlet Select Board.
According to family members, Crossman Jr. was diagnosed with a learning disability, has had mental health issues and has had episodes of aggression in the past.
Police also reported that a search of Crossman Jr.’s phone turned up searches related to serial killers and cold case murders.
A neighbor and relative of Crossman claimed that the farm where the murders took place had been in the family for generations.
They also said that Crossman and his wife, who married in June, recently took over Crossman’s sister’s farm.
A neighbor and relative of Crossman claimed that the farm where the murders took place had been in the family for generations.
Family members told the outlet that Crossman Jr. had a complicated relationship with his father, who had just been elected to the Pawlet Select Board
“I think he was just trying to make a fresh start and run the family farm. And yeah, this is just the last thing I expected,” the source said. Vermont News & Media.
Pawlet is a town of about 1,400 people near the New York state border.
Crossman’s place at the table during Tuesday’s board meeting was filled with flowers. The select board is responsible for overseeing city spending and adopting ordinances.
“Brian Crossman was a friend and neighbor, a hardworking community member who joined the Pawlet Select board this year,” Chairman Mike Beecher said in a statement.
“This tragedy that befell him and his family has also hit our community hard, and we are shocked and grieving. Our hearts go out to all those affected by this devastating loss.”
