Son of Pawlet Selectboard member arrested for triple murder

Updated at 16:38

Vermont State Police have charged the adult son of slain Pawlet Selectboard member Brian Crossman Sr. with killing him and two family members whose bodies were discovered in their home Sunday.

New York State Police arrested Brian Crossman Jr., 22, of Granville, New York, on Friday after Vermont authorities obtained an arrest warrant. Crossman Jr. is charged with three counts of aggravated murder, Vermont State Police said, pending his extradition to Vermont.

The elder Crossman, 46, his wife Erica (Pawlusiak) Crossman, 41, and their son Colin Taft, 13, were found dead Sunday in their family home on Vermont Route 133. Each of them had been shot in the early morning hours, Vermont State Police said.

Pawlet Selectboard member, his wife and stepson found shot to death

Pawlet Selectboard member, his wife and stepson found shot to death

By Sasha Goldstein

crime

State police said in a statement that they linked Crossman Jr. to the murders based on “digital information, statements, injuries and various interviews.”

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• WCAX
• The family house in Pawlet

Additional information was filed in an affidavit with the Vermont Superior Court in Rutland, but the document was not immediately available Friday afternoon.

Crossman Jr. made his initial appearance in Warren County Court in New York on Friday afternoon. He is facing extradition to Vermont and has another hearing scheduled for next week in Warren County. In the meantime, he is being held without bail in the Warren County Jail.

Pawlet is located in southern Vermont, about 10 minutes from Granville, which is on the state border.

Crossman Sr. was elected to the five-member city council in March. The council honored his seat with flowers at its meeting earlier this week.

Correction: Authorities initially misstated Brian Crossman Jr.'s age. This post has been updated to indicate he is 22.