Dispatchers Hear Gunshots During 911 Call

"TOWNSHEND, VT — Vermont State Police are investigating an incident that left two people dead.

"Police said they received a 911 call around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday from a Grafton Road residence requesting help. The dispatcher said they heard what they believed to be gunshots while on the phone. The call then ended abruptly by the caller, according to police.

"Police from the Brattleboro Barracks responded to the residence and found a male, identified as 26-year-old Shane Brodeur, deceased outside of an apparent gunshot wound. A female, identified as 20-year-old Katelyn McFadden, was found unresponsive inside the residence of an apparent gunshot wound, police said.

"McFadden was transported to Grace Cottage Hospital and then airlifted to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. Police said she later succumbed to her injuries.

"The autopsy and subsequent investigation revealed McFadden died of a gunshot wound to the head and a second gunshot injury to the neck. The cause of death was determined to be a gunshot wound to the head, and the manner of death was homicide.

"The autopsy and investigation into Brodeur's death revealed Brodeur died as a result of a single, self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, and the manner of death was a suicide.

"The investigation revealed Brodeur was responsible for McFadden's gunshot wounds before fatally injuring himself. Police said Brodeur made the initial 911 call regarding disagreements between himself and McFadden.

"Police said Brodeur and McFadden were in a relationship and lived together at the Grafton Road residence."

From news10.com...

"A Tragic Act Of Domestic Violence"

"STOWE, VT — Authorities have identified the two people killed in an apparent murder-suicide that police are calling `a tragic act of domestic violence.`

"According to a press release issued by the Stowe Police Department, police believe 64-year-old Wayne Washburn murdered his 59-year-old wife, Katherine Washburn, and then committed suicide.

"Police found the bodies of Wayne and Katherine Washburn at their home at 262 Cady Hill Road in Stowe at 4:38 p.m. Wednesday. On Thursday morning, police said their investigation indicated the incident was a murder/suicide. They identified the victims and provided more details late Thursday afternoon.

"Police said Katherine Washburn had suffered `severe injuries to her head,` although her exact cause of death had not yet been determined.

"Police said evidence suggests Wayne Washburn may have `overdosed on prescription medication in conjunction with deliberate carbon monoxide poisoning.`

"The department is awaiting further information from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner."

From stowetoday.com...

Father And Son Found Dead In Apartment

"ESSEX, VT —Police are investigating a murder/suicide involving a father and his teenage son.

"Police say the call came in just before 2 p.m. Wednesday. And within the hour, an Essex apartment on Carmichael Street was crawling with police.

"The incident was initially reported to police as a suicide, but when investigators went inside, the details grew even more grim with the discovery of a second body.

"`Responding officers found a middle-aged male and a teenage male deceased inside the apartment,` Essex Police Chief Brad LaRose said.

"Police have now identified the dead as Ludwig `Sonny` Schumacher, 49, and his son, Gunnar, 14. Investigators say Sonny killed his son, and then hanged himself. A friend discovered the bodies and called police.

"Sonny Schumacher was a former lieutenant colonel with the Vermont Air National Guard, a career that started in 1989. He was an F-16 pilot who rose through the ranks to become the director of operations for military support. He left the guard in 2011.

"Police say Sonny was going through a divorce and his son, Gunnar, was living with him at least part time. Gunnar was a student at Essex High School.

"`School officials have been informed of the incident and measures will be in place to respond to students and staff's needs tomorrow and in the days to come,` said Chief LaRose.

"Police estimate the murder-suicide likely happened more than 24 hours ago. But they're not saying what prompted the violence."

From WCAX...

UPDATE:

01/25/2014 — Wife of shooter was held in psych hospital against her will...

Pair Found Dead In Kitchen

"FAIRLEE, VT — Two people were killed Tuesday in what police say was a murder/suicide that arose from domestic violence in Fairlee.

"The Vermont State Police found Rhonda Gray, 43, and Troy Gray, 45, dead in a home at 14 Sunrise Drive at about 7:45 a.m. Police did not specify in a statement releasing the names whether the Grays were married, divorced or separated.

"The deaths occurred one day after state troopers from Bradford responded to the home to investigate a report that Troy Gray was inside in violation of his conditions of release from a July 25 domestic assault charge in which Rhonda Gray was the victim, Detective Sgt. Fred Cornell said in a statement Tuesday evening.

"When police arrived that day, Rhonda Gray denied that Troy Gray violated his conditions, and there was no other evidence indicating he had been at the home, Cornell said.

"In Tuesday’s case, a preliminary review of the evidence showed that Troy Gray used a rifle to shoot and kill Rhonda Gray, Cornell said. Troy then turned the weapon on himself and died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

"Police say a family member living in the home heard two gunshots in an upstairs portion of the residence, and then found the bodies of Rhonda Gray and Troy Gray in the kitchen."

From BurlingtonFreePress.com...

Woman Flees Scene As Confrontation Turns Deadly

"PEACHAM, VT — Two men are dead in a Peacham shooting that police said appears to be a murder/suicide.

"Police found the bodies at a home on Slack Street at which gunshots were reported Wednesday morning.

"A woman, Jeannie Peabody, 60, was unharmed.

"The victims are Mark Peabody, 50, and John Jackson, 59, Vermont State Police Detective Lt. Robert Cushing told reporters at a 5:20 p.m. news conference in St. Johnsbury.

"Jackson is Jeannie Peabody’s ex-husband, Cushing said, and Mark Peabody is her current spouse. Jackson and Jeannie Peabody had an ongoing dispute over child support payments and a pending court case, the detective said.

"`She’s distraught,` Cushing said. `She just lost her husband. We can all only imagine how she feels.`

"The detective said Jackson arrived at the Peabodys’ home Wednesday morning and drove up on the lawn, and Mark Peabody went outside to confront him. Jeannie Peabody heard three gunshots and hid in the basement. She then heard footsteps inside the house and fled to a neighbor’s home, where she called 911, Cushing said.

"State troopers and a tactical team went to the scene, where they found Mark Peabody shot to death in front of the house and Jackson dead inside of an apparent self-inflicted wound."

Source: BurlingtonFreePress.com...

Police Suspect Double Murder/Suicide

"WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, VT — Police in White River Junction searched a home Friday night after a call from a concerned friend and found three people dead inside.

"The people who lived at the Chandler Road home had not been heard from in several days, according to Hartford Police.

"Upon inspecting the home, police found one person dead inside the garage and two others inside. They were 80-year-old Robert McCoy, 71-year-old Keumyie McCoy and 50-year-old Barry Facto. All three reported resided there.

"Police did not say how the three died, but did say the incident is believed to be a murder-suicide and posed no threat to the community."

From WPTZ.com...

Financial Problems & Abuse Preceded Murder/Suicide

"ST. JOHNSBURY, VT — Vermont police say a St. Johnsbury couple has died in a murder-suicide.

"Police say 50-year-old Penny Birch and 55-year-old David Birch were found dead inside their home Monday afternoon.

"Police say Penny Birch was shot in the head in a homicide and that David Birch shot himself.

"Authorities found the bodies after Penny Birch didn't show up for an appointment with a friend Sunday afternoon.

"Police say interviews with family, friends and acquaintances indicated that the couple had been having financial problems and that David Birch had been physically abusing Penny Birch.

"Police say Penny Birch had told a friend before the shooting that she was going to tell her husband that she was leaving him and then exit the home."

From WPTZ.com...

Two Dead In Deer Hunting Incident

"READSBORO, VT — A Vermont deer hunter accidentally shot and killed his hunting buddy, and was so devastated he turned his rifle on himself, state police say.

"Investigators say Benjamin Birch, 39, Timothy Bolognani, 49, and Mark Colford were hunting near Readsboro, Vt., on Saturday afternoon when Birch shot a deer, according to local reports.

"The wounded animal managed to run off, and the trio began tracking it through the brush, local station WPTZ reported. Later Bolognani fired at what he may have thought was the deer, but instead heard Birch scream out in pain.

"Bolognani and Colford later found their pal bleeding on the ground, but could do nothing to save his life. Overwhelmed with grief, Bolognani then committed suicide with his own rifle, cops say.

"Authorities are awaiting the results of an autopsy, but police said they don't suspect any foul play in the incident.

"According to a local report, Bolognani’s mother, Betty, is a former Vermont state representative."

From the New York Daily News...

SWAT Team Finds Bodies After Forced Entry

"NEWPORT, VT — Newport Police say two people are dead after an apparent murder suicide Saturday.

"Police received a 911 call of a disturbance at 93 Winter St. at about 9 p.m. Saturday. They evacuated neighbors on the street from their homes and called for backup. A SWAT team arrived at the residence early Sunday and attempted to make contact with a suspect inside the duplex.

"Newport Police Chief J. Paul Duquette said efforts at conversation were unsuccessful. The state police tactical unit forced its way in and found the two bodies. Duquette says police did not fire their weapons. He would not say if a gun was used in the incident.

"Police say Saturday was not the first time the police have been called to the residence for domestic violence."

From WCAX.com...

Fight Erupts Into Murder/Suicide

"READSBORO, VT — What Vermont State Police say was a murder-suicide is under investigation in Southwestern Vermont near the Massachusetts border.

"Investigators said they got a call Tuesday night from a woman who had barricaded herself in a room while her husband and son were fighting.

"When troopers arrived at the home on 561 Smith Drive in Readsboro, they said they found James Finley, 69, dead -- the victim of multiple gunshot wounds. On the other side of the room, they found his son, Robert, 47, the victim of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

"Autopsies are scheduled for later today.

"The investigation continues."

From WRGB...