On October 26, at approximately 9:58 a.m., the Vermont State Police received a report of a two-vehicle crash involving a motorcycle vs. passenger car in the area of Cemetery Hill Road and U.S. Rte. 2. Both the operator and passenger of the motorcycle were flown to UVM Medical Center in Burlington and Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center for life threatening injuries. Both David Garneau, of Worcester and Earle Rogers, of Worcester were transported to Central Vermont Medical Center for suspected minor injuries. Subsequent investigation determined that Garneau was suspected to be impaired by intoxicants other than alcohol. Garneau was issued a citation to appear in the Washington County Superior Court – Criminal Division to answer to the charge of Negligent Operation and DUI – Drug. Update: The driver of the motorcycle was Jules Delorme, of Ontario. The passenger of the motorcycle, Annette Cleroux, of Ontario, died from her injuries on October 27.
On October 27 at approximately 4:11 a.m., the Vermont State Police was notified of a suspicious truck that was parked in the middle of someone’s front lawn on Valley Lake Road in Woodbury. Troopers responded to the residence and located an individual sleeping in the running truck with the vehicle still in drive. Once the driver was woken up the vehicle was safely placed in park. Subsequent investigation led to the arrest of the operator, Luke Carrier, of Calais, for suspicion of DUI. Carrier was placed under arrest without incident and transported to the Berlin State Police Barracks for processing. Carrier was issued a citation to appear in Vt. Superior Court, Washington Circuit, on November 16 for the offense of DUI.
The Vermont State Police is investigating a suspicious death that was reported Friday evening October 27 in the Washington County town of Plainfield.
Hunters in the woods along Gore Road discovered a body at about 4:30 p.m., Friday, and called police. Responding troopers located the victim deceased. Evidence gathered on scene indicates the death occurred under suspicious circumstances.
This investigation is in its preliminary stages and involves members of the Vermont State Police Major Crime Unit, Bureau of Criminal Investigations, Field Force Division, Crime Scene Search Team and Victim Services Unit. No one is currently in custody.
Following processing of the scene, the victim’s body will be brought to the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington for an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death and help determine the victim’s identity. The name will be released following further investigation and notification of relatives.
Anyone with information that could assist investigators in this case is asked to call the Vermont State Police in Berlin at (802) 229-9191. Tips also may be submitted anonymously online at vsp.vermont.gov/tipsubmit.
Update: An autopsy on the victim found deceased Friday in Plainfield was completed Sunday, October 29 at the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington.
The medical examiner was able to positively identify the victim as Jeffrey Caron, of Barre. The cause of his death was determined to be a gunshot wound, and the manner of death is a homicide.
Investigation to this point by the Vermont State Police indicates this was a targeted, isolated incident, and there is no danger to the public. Detectives do not believe there is a connection between this homicide and any of the other recent killings in Vermont.
This investigation remains active and ongoing. No one is in custody. Anyone who might have information that could assist police is asked to call VSP’s Berlin Barracks at (802) 229-9191 or submit an anonymous tip online at vsp.vermont.gov/tipsubmit.
No additional information is available at this time. The state police will continue to share updates as the case continues.
Update No. 2: The Vermont State Police has made two arrests arising from the fatal shooting of Jeffrey Caron, 42, of Barre, whose body was found last week in Plainfield. Kyle Bressette, of Barre was taken into custody on a charge of second-degree murder. Chris Relation, of Berlin faces a charge of being an accessory after the fact to second-degree murder. Both men were expected to be arraigned at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 31 in the Criminal Division of Vermont Superior Court in Barre.
VSP’s investigation led to identifying Bressette as the suspect in the shooting, which arose from a dispute involving drugs. Investigators believe the homicide occurred on or about October 24 or 25. According to the investigative findings, Relation assisted Bressette following the shooting and failed to report the incident to police.
The arrests occurred after state police obtained search warrants Monday, October 30 for a home on Turner Hill Road in Berlin where Bressette and Relation were staying. The Vermont State Police Tactical Services Unit executed the warrant late Monday night. Bressette and Relation initially refused commands to leave the home and surrender to police, but after several hours, they complied and were taken into custody without further incident.
Bressette also was wanted on a pending arrest warrant for charges of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, aggravated operation of a vehicle without owner’s consent, operating a vehicle with a suspended license, failure to use an ignition interlock device, and petit larceny.
Bressette and Relation were ordered jailed without bail at Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans pending their initial court appearances.
On September 5, at approximately 1:32 p.m., the Vermont State Police received a report of a vandalism in Cabot. Subsequent investigation indicated that Angela Hemwall, of Plainfield, intentionally damaged several oak seedlings belonging to Darien Mcelwain, of Cabot. It appeared this incident was part of an ongoing personal dispute between Hemwall and Mcelwain. On October 28, Hemwall was issued a citation for the offense of Unlawful Mischief. Court date of December 7. at 8:30 a.m., in Washington County Superior Court, Criminal Division.
On October 27, at approximately 7:48 a.m., the Vermont State Police received a report of a theft of two cartons of cigarettes from the Plainfield Maplefields. Subsequent investigation indicated that Richard Atkinson, of Barre, Waterbury, Middlesex areas, had stolen two cartons of cigarettes from the Marshfield General Store and two cartons from the Plainfield Maplefields. Atkinson was later located and issued a citation for the offenses. Court date of December 7, at 8:30 a.m., in Washington County Superior Court, Criminal Division.
