Brian Crossman Jr, Granville, New York man arrested in the shooting murder of his father, Brian Crossman, his new wife, Erica Grossman and her teen son, Colin Taft at their Pawlet Vermont rural residence. No known motive.
Vermont authorities announced on Friday the arrest of a suspect who over the weekend gunned down a newly elected local select Vermont board-member, his wife and her teen daughter. It remained unclear if the individual arrested was the same individual — while drenched in blood-soaked gear — who called 911 on Tuesday and then led Pawlet authorities to the bodies.
Identified as the suspect in the triple homicide is the victim’s son, Brian Crossman Jr, 23, of Granville, New York. The relative upon his arrest on Friday was booked on three counts of aggravated murder arising 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.
Suspect being held without bail
Evidence shows the killings occurred early Sunday morning, Sept. 15, inside the family home on Vermont Route 133 that Crossman Sr. shared with his wife and stepson, CBS6 reported.
After the issuance of the Vermont arrest warrant, the New York State Police located Crossman Jr. and took him into custody. He is being detained without bail pending an appearance before a New York judge and the initiation of proceedings for his extradition to Vermont. His initial court appearance in New York was expected to occur at 2:30 p.m. Friday in Glens Falls. The timing of his return to Vermont currently is unknown.
The Vermont State Police investigation identified significant evidence that linked Crossman Jr. to the killings, including digital information, statements, injuries, and various interviews the Manchester Journal reported.
Autopsies conducted by the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington determined on Tuesday 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. Colin Taft’s cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds.
No known motive
The couple had just married in June, and recently moved to the farm on Route 133, according to a neighbor.
‘He was cleaning it up and working the farm,’ the neighbor said. ‘I think he was just trying to make a new start and trying to run the family farm. And, yeah, this just is, like, the last thing I expected.’
Erica Crossman hailed from Ira, Vermont according to her Facebook profile, and was an alumna of Fair Haven Unified High School.
Both Brian and Erica were employees of Green Mountain Power.
‘We are devastated by this unimaginable loss,’ read a statement from Green Mountain Power, released on Friday. ‘Erica and Brian were beloved members of our team, and their deaths have left us all in shock and grief.’
Brian Crossman was elected to a one-year term on Pawlet’s Select Board in March, and had been appointed as liaison to the town’s Highway Department and for buildings.
Mike Beecher, chairperson of the five-member board, read a statement: ‘Brian Crossman was a friend and neighbor, a hardworking community member who just this year stepped up to join the Pawlet Selectboard.
‘This tragedy that struck him and his family has also hit our community hard, and we are shaken and grieving. Our hearts go out to everyone affected by this devastating loss.’
To date no known murder motive was immediately known.
