Pawlet triple homicide suspect extradited to VT

RUTLAND, Vt. (NEWS10) -- The New York man accused of killing three of his family members was sent back to Vermont on Wednesday. Brian Crossman Jr. is facing three counts of aggravated murder.

The 22-year old is accused of killing his father, Brian Crossman Sr., his stepmother Erica (Pawlusiak) Crossman, and his stepbrother Colin Taft. All three were found shot to death in their Pawlet home on September 15.

Officials said Crossman Jr. called police just before 4 a.m. that day to report he found his family dead at the Route 133 home. Court records state police met Crossman Jr. at a nearby school. He allegedly had blood-like stains on his clothes.

Police interviews with Crossman Jr.’s grandmother revealed he was only staying at the house for the weekend. The affidavit states that Crossman Jr. claimed he went for a walk around midnight, discovering the bodies upon returning home three hours later.

Crossman Jr., who lives in Granville, was arrested as a fugitive from justice in Glens Falls on September 20. He was jailed without bail at the Marble Valley Regional Correctional Facility in Rutland and is expected to be arraigned Thursday afternoon.