The Vermont community of Pawlet is in shock after a tragic incident took the lives of a town official, his wife, and her son. The victims were identified as Brian Crossman, 46, who served on the selectboard in Pawlet, Erica Crossman, 41, and Colin Taft, 13. The small town of Pawlet, with a population of approximately 1,400 residents, is located near the border of New York state.
The three individuals were discovered dead in their home on Sunday, and Vermont State Police confirmed on Tuesday that the deaths were ruled as homicides. The investigation into the tragic event is ongoing, and authorities have not yet taken anyone into custody.
Following the devastating news, the Pawlet selectboard convened for their regular meeting on Tuesday evening. Brian Crossman’s absence was felt as his chair at the table remained unoccupied, with flowers placed in his memory. Mike Beecher, the chairperson of the selectboard, expressed his condolences, stating that Brian Crossman was not just a colleague but also a valued member of the community who had recently joined the selectboard.
Beecher went on to say, “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.” The Pawlet community is left mourning the loss of three of its residents and grappling with the shock of the violent deaths.
