MONTPELIER, Vt. – A spate of suspicious deaths has left Vermont State Police scrambling to conduct multiple investigations across the state. The discovery of a body by hunters in Plainfield marked the second time this week that such a discovery had been made in central Vermont.
Since Oct. 5, there have been seven deaths considered to be suspicious, a sharp increase when compared to the nine reported homicides in the state for all of 2021. According to Col. Matthew Birmingham of the Vermont State Police, this spike in killings is “a little unprecedented” for Vermont, which typically has a lower homicide rate.
Birmingham emphasized the complexity of these recent investigations, stating that they are unusual and challenging. Particularly concerning is the fact that no arrests have been made in any of the seven recent cases. Each case seems to be an isolated incident with no apparent connection to the others, adding to the complexity of the investigations.
Among the recent deaths, hunters found the body of a 23-year-old Barre woman in Washington and, separately, the bodies of two Massachusetts men in Eden. Additionally, a 27-year-old Vermont National Guard member was shot and killed at his home in Wheelock, and a 27-year-old man was shot and killed in Newport Town.
Each death presents unique circumstances, and Birmingham confirmed that there is no clear pattern or motivation behind the homicides. While some cases are expected to be resolved sooner than others, the state police are currently facing resource challenges due to the demands of these multiple investigations.
Despite the challenges, Birmingham expressed confidence in the progress being made, with significant assistance coming from not just the criminal division but also federal agencies. However, the investigations remain active, and the state police are focused on making significant progress towards resolving these cases soon.
As the investigations continue, the Vermont State Police urge the public to come forward with any tips or information related to these suspicious deaths, highlighting their commitment to bringing closure to these cases and serving the community.