A man was arrested after he allegedly killed a father, stepmother and the stepmother's teenage son in their Vermont home earlier this week, then called police to report the horrific crime, authorities said.
Brian Crossman Jr., 22, is accused of shooting and killing his father, local government employee Brian Crossman, 46, his wife Erica, 41, and Erica's 13-year-old son, Collin Taft, on Sunday morning in their home in the rural town of Pawlett, near the New York state line. Vermont State Police.
The man, from Granville, New York, was taken into custody by New York State Police on Friday and charged with three counts of murder.
He appeared in Warren County Court in Lake George and was ordered held without bail while he awaits extradition to Vermont, authorities said.
Brian Crossman was found dead in his home Sunday morning covered in blood, with gunshot wounds to the head and torso. His wife had been shot at least once in the head, and their daughter was found dead with “multiple gunshot wounds.” A gun and shell casings were recovered.
According to police, Crossman Jr. called 911 and told police he had gone for a walk and returned to find his family murdered. WCAX reportedHowever, investigators soon discovered inconsistencies in the 22-year-old man's story.
The motive for the shooting remains under investigation.
Family members told the outlet that Crossman Jr. had a troubled relationship with his father, who was recently elected to the Paulette Board of Elections.
Relatives said the son had a learning disability, a history of mental illness and a history of aggressive behaviour in the past.
Police also found that a search of Crossman Jr.'s cell phone revealed searches related to serial killers and unsolved murder cases.
Neighbors said Crossman Jr.'s father and his wife were married in June on a beautiful farm that has been in the family for generations.
“My dad was cleaning up the farm and working. I think he was just trying to get a new start and try to run the family farm. And, yeah, this is something I never expected,” a relative told the Bennington Banner.
