Current:Home > ScamsSafeX Pro Exchange|Vermont police launch manhunt for 'armed and dangerous' suspect after woman found dead -FundPrime
SafeX Pro Exchange|Vermont police launch manhunt for 'armed and dangerous' suspect after woman found dead
Johnathan Walker View
Date:2025-04-06 11:12:41
An “armed and SafeX Pro Exchangedangerous” suspect remains at large in Vermont after a woman's body was discovered on a popular trail Thursday afternoon, prompting a large manhunt, urgent warnings to residents and the closure of Vermont State University's Castleton campus.
A passerby came upon the woman's body along the Delaware and Hudson Rail Trail in Castletown, about 30 miles south of Middlebury, and reported it to police, who arrived at the scene around 4:30 p.m. Thursday, according to the Vermont State Police.
A witness in the area told investigators they heard gunshots and saw a possible suspect walking toward the Vermont State University Castleton campus, less than a mile north of where the incident occurred.
Vermont State University president says situation is 'deeply unsettling'
The university issued a shelter-in-place warning Thursday evening, according to the university's website. The campus canceled all events for Friday and extended the shelter-in-place warning, citing the "ongoing investigation."
"We ask all employees and students not to travel to the Castleton Campus for any reason," read a statement by Michael Smith, the interim president of Vermont State University, adding: "This situation is deeply unsettling."
Vermont State Police Maj. Daniel Trudeau refused to name the victim but said she was not a student at the university during an update at a news conference Friday afternoon. He said investigators were waiting for an official cause of death from the Medical Examiner's Office. The case was being treated as a homicide.
Vermont State Police: 'We need a good first clue'
At the news conference, Trudeau described the suspect as a white male, approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall, with short dark-colored hair. The man was last seen wearing a dark T-shirt and carrying a black backpack, he said.
Trudeau said police do not have a name or any more information about the suspect other than the descriptions provided by witnesses.
"We need a good first clue," he said before calling on residents to provide relevant tips and surveillance footage.
A statement from Vermont State Police described the suspect as "armed and dangerous."
Investigators canvass nearby Castleton homes in manhunt
Police began canvassing houses in the area around where the woman was found Thursday night and continued into Friday afternoon. Residents have been urged to keep the doors of their cars and homes locked and to stay aware of their surroundings.
"As the search continues for a suspect, please make phone calls to friends and family in the area to check in on them," the town of Castleton said in a Facebook post. "If going into buildings or outbuildings that are not/have not been locked, use the buddy system, meaning have another person with you, and have a cell phone with you whenever possible."
Police cordoned off the street near where the woman was found and closed the trail.
The investigation is being headed by the Vermont State Police's major crime unit in conjunction with the Castleton Police Department.
The Delaware and Hudson Rail Trail is a 19.8-mile section of former railroad that cuts through through scenic countryside with vistas of the nearby hills, villages, farms, fields and forests, according to its website. It's a multiple-use trail open to pedestrians, bicyclists, and horseback riders in the summer, and snowshoers, skiers and snowmobiles in the winter.
veryGood! (9)
Related
- US appeals court rejects Nasdaq’s diversity rules for company boards
- Republican Presidential Candidate Nikki Haley Says Climate Change is Real. Is She Proposing Anything to Stop It?
- Egypt’s leader el-Sissi slams Ethiopia-Somaliland coastline deal and vows support for Somalia
- Pawn Stars reality star Rick Harrison breaks silence after son dies at 39
- Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
- German train drivers’ union calls a six-day strike starting Wednesday over pay, working hours
- Abortion opponents at March for Life appreciate Donald Trump, but seek a sharper stance on the issue
- Jordan Love’s promising debut season as Packers starter ends with big mistakes vs. 49ers
- Gen. Mark Milley's security detail and security clearance revoked, Pentagon says
- Ancient temple filled with gold and silver jewels discovered in Greece
Ranking
- Rams vs. 49ers highlights: LA wins rainy defensive struggle in key divisional game
- Watch this incredible dog help save her owner after he fell into a frozen lake
- Michelle Trachtenberg Responds to Fans' Concerns Over Her Appearance
- Packers vs. 49ers highlights: Brock Purdy comes through with late rally
- Nevada attorney general revives 2020 fake electors case
- Former firefighter accused of planting explosives near California roadways pleads not guilty
- Japanese carmaker that faked safety tests sees long wait to reopen factories
- Rory McIlroy makes DP World Tour history with fourth Hero Dubai Desert Classic win
Recommendation
The city of Chicago is ordered to pay nearly $80M for a police chase that killed a 10
Jamaica cracks down on domestic violence with new laws aimed at better protecting victims
Star power of 'We are the World' remains unmatched: Inside the dramatic 1-night recording
Mega Millions winning numbers for January 19 drawing; jackpot reaches $236 million
B.A. Parker is learning the banjo
Oscar nomination predictions: Who's in for sure (what's up, RDJ!) and who may get snubbed
Michelle Trachtenberg Responds to Fans' Concerns Over Her Appearance
NFL schedule today: Everything to know about playoff games on Jan. 21