A man was arrested after he allegedly killed his father, stepmother and her teenage son in their Vermont home earlier this week — and then called police to report the gruesome crime, authorities said.
Brian Crossman Jr., 22, is accused of shooting and killing his father and local official Brian Crossman, 46, his wife Erica, 41, and their 13-year-old son Collin Taft early Sunday morning in their shared home in the rural town of Pawlet near the New York state border. Vermont State Police said,
The Granville, New York native was taken into custody by New York State Police on Friday and charged with three counts of aggravated murder.
He appeared in Warren County Court in Lake George, where he was ordered held without bail until extradition to Vermont, authorities said.
Brian Crossman found dead His wife died of gunshot wounds to the head and torso in a blood-soaked home Sunday morning, while their teenager suffered at least one gunshot wound to the head and “multiple gunshot wounds.” A gun and cartridge shells were recovered.
Police say Crossman Jr. called 911 to report the incident, telling police he went for a walk and returned to find his family dead. WCAX reportedHowever, investigators soon found inconsistencies in the 22-year-old's story.
The motive for the shooting is still under investigation.
Family members said Crossman Jr. didn’t have a good relationship with his father, who was recently elected to the Pawlet Select Board.
Relatives said he had learning difficulties, mental health issues and had been aggressive in the past.
Police also said a search of Crossman Jr.'s phone turned up information related to serial killers and cold case murders.
Neighbors said Crossman Jr.'s father and wife were married in June on their beautiful farm, which had been in the family for generations.
“He was cleaning it up and working on the farm. I think he was just trying to get a fresh start and get the family farm going. And, yeah, it was exactly the kind of thing that I didn't expect,” a relative told the Bennington Banner.
