Bloodied man says he returned from a walk and found three bodies; now he is charged with murder

The bodies of the Pawlet trio were discovered in the early morning hours of September 15 after state police responded to a “suspicious person call.” The mysterious man was also described in initial reports as a “person of interest” and as someone who “had some blood on him.”

Police later found the three bodies in a nearby residence and described the deaths as “suspicious.” The medical examiner determined: “Brian Crossman's cause of death was gunshot wounds to the head and upper body, Erica Crossman's was a gunshot wound to the head, and Colin Taft's was multiple gunshot wounds.” The deaths were subsequently classified as homicides.

The identity of the mysterious man remained a mystery until Friday afternoon. when officers identified him as 22-year-old Brian Crossman Jr.the son, stepson and stepbrother of the three victims. Crossman Sr. and his wife had only been married since July.

On Friday, Vermont State Police obtained an arrest warrant for Crossman Jr., who is now charged with murder for shooting his father, stepmother and her son. He was According to reports arrested when he was released from a New York hospital last Sunday.

“The evidence shows that the murders occurred early Sunday morning, September 15, at the family home on Vermont Route 133, which Crossman Sr. occupied with his wife and stepson,” police said, adding that he was being held without bail pending his appearance before a New York judge and extradition to Vermont.

“The Vermont State Police investigation uncovered substantial evidence linking Crossman Jr. to the murders, including digital information, statements, injuries and various interviews,” they added.

According to the arrest affidavit VTDiggerCrossman Jr. lived with his mother in New York but spent the weekend with his father in Pawlet. He called police around 4 a.m., claiming he had gone for a walk and returned to find a triple homicide. He arranged to meet authorities in the parking lot of a nearby school, where he allegedly drove in his father's truck, covered in blood.

According to the Bennington Bannerwho also cited the affidavit, allegedly explained the blood by saying he was “trying to drag his father out of the house.” Crossman Jr. also appeared to have a “fresh” wound on his shoulder, which authorities said was located “where a shooter would normally place the butt of a long gun to fire.”

Investigators believe at least two different shotguns were used in the murders and were kept in a “gun room” in the house. The kitchen was covered in blood, a chainsaw was also found on the kitchen counter, and ammunition was found throughout the house.

Family members reportedly told authorities the suspect had mental health issues, was “familiar with firearms” and had a “troubled relationship” with his father. His mother said he had suffered a “nervous breakdown” about a month earlier and told authorities he may be suffering from schizophrenia.

Meanwhile, a friend of Erica Crossman said she was afraid of being alone with her husband's son and was especially afraid of the weekend of the murders because the local power company would be on call in Crossman Street.

The suspect's mother also reportedly said that she received a text message from her son around 4:35 a.m. on the morning of the murders, saying “that something bad had happened, that he loved her, and that she would find out later what had happened.” Around the same time, he also reportedly sent a Facebook message to someone else saying “I love you” and adding that his “father is dead.”

Another hearing has reportedly been scheduled for this week in New York.