Suspect arrested in Pawlet triple murder

Staff report

On Friday, September 20, 2024, the Vermont State Police (VSP) obtained an arrest warrant for the suspect in connection with the killing of three people – family members – last weekend in Pawlet.

Brian Crossman Jr., 22, of Granville, New York, is charged with three counts of aggravated murder stemming from the fatal shootings of his father, 46-year-old Brian Crossman Sr., his stepmother, 41-year-old Erica (Pawlusiak) Crossman, and his 13-year-old stepbrother, Colin Taft. Evidence shows the murders occurred early in the morning of Sunday, September 15, at the family home on Route 133, which Crossman Sr. occupied with his wife and stepson.

At the time, police spoke of an “isolated incident” and said there was “no identifiable threat to the community.”

Following the issuance of the Vermont warrant, New York State Police located and took Crossman Jr. into custody. He is being held without bail. He made his initial appearance in Warren County Court in Lake George, New York, on Friday afternoon on charges of being a fugitive from justice. Arrangements for his extradition to Vermont are pending.

VSP will provide an update once Crossman Jr.'s arraignment date in Vermont is set.

Proof

The VSP investigation uncovered numerous pieces of evidence linking Crossman Jr. to the murders, including digital information, statements, injuries, and various interviews.

On Sunday, Major Dan Trudeau, head of the state police criminal division, told WCAX that police received a report of a “person who had some blood on them” on a “roadway.” That person was later arrested, he said.

The case is set forth in an affidavit of probable cause in support of the arrest warrant filed with the Criminal Division of the Vermont Superior Court in Rutland.

VSP worked closely with Rutland County Prosecutor Ian Sullivan's office throughout the investigation. Investigators also thanked the Pawlet community for their continued patience and understanding as this case developed throughout the week.

The victims

Police identified the Pawlet Select Board member and his family members as victims of a triple homicide.

According to police, Brian Crossman, Erica Crossman and 13-year-old Colin Taft died from gunshot wounds.

“The medical examiner determined that Brian Crossman's cause of death was gunshot wounds to the head and torso, Erica Crossman's cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head, and Colin Taft's cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds. All three deaths were ruled homicides,” a police report said Tuesday evening.

On Tuesday morning, Crossman's colleagues on the Pawlet Select Board released a statement mourning his death. “Brian Crossman was a friend and neighbor, a hard-working member of the community who just joined the Pawlet Selectboard this year,” they wrote.

“This tragedy that has struck him and his family has also hit our community hard, and we are devastated and grieving. Our condolences go out to everyone affected by this devastating loss,” said the statement, signed by Board President Mike Beecher. “The City of Pawlet will work to get through this as we always get through difficult times by supporting one another and doing our best to carry on.”

Teacher remembers Crossman as “humble” and “kind”

Decades ago, JeanMarie Oakman was Brian Crossman’s teacher and principal during her tenure at Wells Village School.

She said Crossman was a “humble, sweet, gentle boy,” the kind of child who made others feel at home at the small, rural school.

“He took care of all his cousins ​​and relatives. He was so kind to his sister,” Oakman said, noting that Crossman was part of a large, “warm” family.

After losing contact, she said, she met Crossman again at a wedding several years ago and “beamed with pride” when she saw how well he was doing.

“Imagine, he wanted to sit down with his old headmaster,” she recalls. “I remember thinking of the wedding, 'What a remarkable man.'”

Now she wondered how such a tragedy could have happened to Crossman and his family. “Why her? I can't understand it. It was very upsetting,” she said.

Ethan Weinstein/VTDigger contributed to this report.