2024 in Review: Vermont homicide investigations

BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Vermont’s homicide rate continues an upward trajectory, topping numbers not seen in nearly three decades.

In 2024, police investigated cases throughout the state, as far north as Orleans and as far south as Brattleboro.

As many cases continue to wind through the legal system, Vermont’s homicide numbers in 2024 are the third highest since 1991. And for the third straight year, homicide numbers topped 20.

“Are we seeing more homicides than we have in past years? Yeah, but I think it ebbs and flows. You know, we go from last year to this year and we’re seeing different kinds of homicide cases in general,” Vt. State Police Maj. Dan Trudeau said.

So far this year, Vermont has 23 homicide deaths. Last year, the state saw 27. And in 2022, there were 25. All three years are well above the 10-year average of 17.

Of the 23 homicides, nearly half involved the use of a gun. And of the cases investigated by state police, six are known to be drug-related, involving both suspects and victims from out of state,

Dan Trudeau with the Vermont State Police Major Crime Unit says domestic violence cases are up.

“There is definitely an increased component of mental health issues with involved suspects,” he said.

This year, Vermont saw a rise in cases classified as parricide, or killing one’s parents, which criminologists say are rare.

“Typically those comprise about 1%-2% of all murders nationwide… And we’ve had at least three cases of that in Vermont,” said Penny Shtull, a criminologist at Norwich University.

One happened in Pawlet, where Brian Crossman Jr., 23, is accused of killing his father, stepmother and 13-year-old stepbrother.

Another was in Enosburgh, where Jordan Lawyer, 29, is accused of killing his father and injuring his mother.

And in Montpelier, Matthew Gomes, 29, is accused of killing his parents.

“In general we have an adult that may have longstanding conflict with their family are more likely to sever that relationship than to kill family members, so we suspect mental illness to be a factor,” Shtull said.

One case this year in St. Johnsbury remains unsolved, added to the list of four still unsolved from last year. Trudeau says while tips filter in from time to time, investigations can be complicated.

“There’s a lot of unreliable witnesses, there’s a lot of uncooperative involved people… And oftentimes very little physical evidence,” he said.

Trudeau says in most cases, the incidents are isolated and victims and suspects often know each other. But they still serve as a reminder for the public to remain vigilant.

In the last three years, only four cases have either gone to trial or ended with plea agreements.

Copyright 2024 WCAX. All rights reserved.